| ||
| ||
| ||
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Blair gets party backing over Iraq
BOURNEMOUTH, England -- Tony Blair's ruling Labour Party has endorsed the British prime minister's policy on Iraq after a three-hour debate on foreign affairs at their party conference. But some delegates insisted Wednesday's vote at the convention at Bournemouth, southern England, was meaningless, as it did not address the burning issue of whether or not the war was justified. A majority of delegates voted by a show of hands to support a party policy document that laid out the government's position. Conference votes have no power to change government policy. The document, drawn up by the party leadership, gave a chronology of the events leading up to the war. It recognized that Saddam's regime "posed a threat to regional and global peace and security" and expressed regret "at the failure of the diplomatic path to peace." It also welcomed Britain's financial commitment to the humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Iraq. Opponents of war in Iraq lashed out at Blair despite being denied a formal debate on the issue. "We were lied to about the weapons of mass destruction and there is no delicate way of putting it," Labour MP Alice Mahon told the conference. "It's a tragedy and a shame that a government of Labour, the party of peace and justice, has taken us to war for reasons that have been exposed as simply untrue," added Mick Hogg, a delegate from the Rail Maritime and Transport union which had offered the "troops out" motion. But in a debate which was more measured than heated, another delegate drew a standing ovation for defending the military action. "I saw the skeletons of men, women and children being dug up," said Ann Clwyd, who is Blair's envoy to Iraq for humanitarian affairs. "I've believed in regime change for the past 20 years," Clwyd added. "I do not believe, and neither do you, that we should turn a blind eye to such atrocities." Some Labour Party members, incensed that the government joined the U.S.-led war without explicit U.N. backing, had tried to present an emergency motion declaring the war unjustified and calling on British troops to be brought home. That was ruled out by party officials, but Iraq figured prominently in a 75-minute debate on "Britain in the World." "No one takes a decision to use military force lightly," Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told delegates. "I have spoken to bereaved family members too often lately. I will never take their loss lightly." Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: "We cannot allow this country to turn its face away from the victims of injustice and tyranny or to pass by on the other side. For there lies retreat, inaction and an abdication of our responsibility." Earlier in the day, Blair's planned health reforms were given the thumbs down by party members who voted against the creation of foundation hospitals. A union motion calling for the policy to be scrapped was clearly carried on a show of hands. The plan would give greater freedom to top hospitals. The government predicted it would eventually win the argument. The move comes a day after party members gave Blair a resounding personal endorsement with a prolonged standing ovation following the prime minister's speech. In his keynote speech to the party Tuesday, Blair made no apologies for the Iraq war, saying the world -- and Britain -- was now a safer place without Saddam Hussein in power. (Full story) Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
