The British Prime Minister has told a British trades unions' conference Saddam Hussein was a threat that "has to be dealt with" and that containment of his weapons had worked "only up to a point".
Mr Blair told the TUC Congress in Blackpool that it would be "an act of gross irresponsibility" to allow the Iraqi dictator to use "the weapons he has or get the weapons he wants".
He said: "I believe it is right to deal with Saddam through the United Nations. After all, it is the will of the UN he is flouting. He, not me or George Bush, is in breach of UN resolutions. If the challenge to us is to work with the UN, we will respond to it.
"But if we do so, then the challenge to all in the UN is this: the UN must be the way to resolve the threat from Saddam, not avoid it".
Addressing union concern about the way he and Mr Bush were proceeding with the plans over Iraq, Mr Blair said: "I totally understand the concerns of people about precipitate military action. Military action should only ever be a last resort".
Mr Blair said it must be clear Saddam had to be disarmed: "Let it be clear that there can be no more conditions, no more games, no more prevaricating, no more undermining of the UN's authority . . . should the will of the UN be ignored, action will follow".
PA