False WMD info: Dept 'sorry'

2004-10-08 17:03

London - Britain's trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt has apologised for false government intelligence information about weapons of mass destruction that was the basis for Britain joining the Iraq invasion last year.

But like Prime Minister Tony Blair earlier, she insisted Britain had nevertheless been right to go ahead with the intervention despite faulty data, which has caused controversy in Britain.

"I certainly want to say that all of us, from the prime minister down, all of us who were involved in making an incredibly difficult decision are very sorry and do apologise for the fact that that information was wrong." she said on BBC television late on Thurday.

"But I don't think we were wrong to go in." she added, in response to a question.

Last week Blair refused to apologise for the Iraq war.

"I can't, sincerely at least, apologise for removing Saddam. The world is a better place with Saddam in prison, not in power." Blair told the annual conference of his Labour Party.

He did however admit: "I could apologise for the information that turned out to be wrong ".

- AFP