Blair facing fresh Iraq war claims

Tony Blair was tonight under sustained attack over the invasion of Iraq following fresh claims that the Attorney General had warned that the war could be illegal.

Tory leader Michael Howard directly accused the Prime Minister of “telling lies” over the case for war while Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy warned the UK general election was becoming a referendum on the issue of “trust”.

Mr Blair sought to steer the campaign agenda onto aid for the world’s poorest countries with a high profile rally to mark World Poverty Day – including a video link-up with former US President Bill Clinton.

However the Liberal Democrats – the only one of the three main parties to oppose the war – signalled their determination to make Iraq a key issue in the closing stages of the election.