Tony Blair to resign?
2003-07-19 13:36
Hakone, Japan - British Prime Minister Tony Blair refused to say on Saturday whether he might resign over the apparent suicide death of David Kelly, an expert at the centre of a dispute over Iraq's weapons programs.
When asked at a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi whether he had "blood on his hands" and might resign, Blair only stared straight ahead and remained speechless.
Blair also refused to say if his defence secretary Geoff Hoon or top media strategist Alastair Campbell had offered to quit their posts over the matter.
The dramatic moment came after Blair reiterated his statement from earlier that an independent judcial inquiry will determine the facts behind Kelly's death.
"I think what is important now is that there is some due process," he said. "I don't think its right for anyone, ourselves or anyone else, to make a judgement before we have the facts.
- AFX