Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he wanted the backing of the United Nations in the Iraq war, but believed that he would never get it.

Giving evidence to a UK public inquiry into the decision to go to war, he said he thought that it would be pointless to continue debating the war with fellow United Nations Security Council members, including Germany.

The inquiry is examining the legitimacy of the war as well as when the decision on providing military support for the 2003 US-led invasion was made.

Blair, now an international envoy to the Middle East, said he doubted at the time that it would be possible to secure a UN "second resolution" that would add legitimacy to the war under international law.

"It was very, very clear to me that the French, the Germans and the Russians had decided they weren't going to be in favor of this," said Blair. "There was a straightforward division, frankly, and I don't think it would have mattered how much time we had taken; they weren't going to agree that force should be used."

Blair denied the accusation that he made a secret agreement with his US counterpart George W. Bush to go to war in Iraq. The former Labour Party leader was asked whether he had pledged to support the war during a visit to the then president’s ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Blair said he had told Bush, "we are going to be with you in confronting and dealing with this threat," but that no promises were made.

9/11 attacks changed judgement

The September 11 attacks changed the "calculus of risk" and meant it was no longer possible to contain Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein through sanctions, Blair also said.

Britain committed 45,000 troops to the war. It was the most controversial episode of Blair's 10-year premiership, provoking huge protests, divisions within his party and accusations he had deceived the public about the justification for invasion.

Under close questioning, Blair said the September 11 Qaeda attacks on the United States - and the threat of weapons of mass destruction - were the main factors in Britain's decision to invade Iraq.

"We were advised that these people would use chemical or biological weapons or a nuclear device if they could get hold of them; that completely changed our assessment of where the risks for security lay."

No regrets over decision

At the end of the session, Blair said that he did not regret the war despite the fact that weapons of mass destruction were not found.

"If I'm asked if I believe we are safer, more secure, that Iraq is better with Saddam and his two sons out of power, then I believe indeed we are," he said.

The British inquiry has already heard from senior civil servants who said intelligence in the days before the March 20, 2003 invasion indicated that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction had already been dismantled.

Protesters outside of the building where the inquiry was being held chanted "Tony Blair, war criminal!" as he entered through a back door amid high security.

Observers say that Blair's appearance may not only affect his personal political legacy but also damage the Labour government of his successor Gordon Brown, who was chancellor of the Exchequer at the time of the Iraq invasion.

rc/glb/AFP/Reuters
Editor: Chuck Penfold