The British Defence Secretary, Mr George Robertson, yesterday issued a stern warning to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq saying he had "bitten off more than he can chew", despite signs of growing unease in Britain over the possibility of military action in the Gulf. The strong words from Mr Robertson came as he and the Prime Minister, Mr Blair, in separate interviews, underlined Britain's determination to use military force against Iraq if diplomatic efforts fail. In a bullish interview, Mr Robertson told BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme that Mr Saddam was an "evil dictator", that any military action in Iraq would be "proportionate" and that it would be designed to reduce Mr Saddam's ability to make weapons of mass destruction and chemical weapons.
Repeating the government's position that military force would be used as a "last resort", Mr Robertson nonetheless insisted that "patience is running out and time is certainly running out".
Mr Robertson also denied reports that a senior member of the British military had expressed doubts about sending troops to the Gulf.
The reports had suggested that the Chief of Defence Staff, Sir Charles Guthrie, had expressed the "gravest doubts" about military action.
But Mr Robertson dismissed the reports as "bogus", saying it was "quite disgraceful" speculation at a time of national and international sensitivity. In articles for the Mail on Sun- day and the Observer, Mr Blair said he was preparing Britain for the possibility of military action against Iraq.
The language was tough and Mr Blair referred directly to his critics, including his own backbenchers, who have questioned the use of force. A small but significant group of Labour MPs will have the opportunity to embarrass Mr Blair over his Iraq policy later this week when a vote on the issue is taken in the Commons. Among the group, the veteran MPs Mr Tony Benn and Mr Tam Dalyell have said they will not support military action in the Gulf.
Mr Blair said he accepted the criticism but he was prepared to use force against Iraq because Mr Saddam had not hesitated to use chemical weapons against his own people and against his neighbours. Past experience had taught the government that diplomacy without the threat of force "moves him very little".
"I say in all honesty to our critics: there is no realistic third choice - that we back away, that he stops the inspectors, but no consequences flow from that. The consequences are clear: he can develop the weapons."
A sign of public disquiet over the government's stance was visible in London at the weekend when several hundred demonstrators marched along Whitehall calling for a peaceful end to the crisis in Iraq.
At one point, about 100 people attempted a "sit-down" outside Downing Street. But Mr Blair insisted that unless Mr Saddam was prevented from developing chemical weapons in Iraq, the Middle East faced "a very significant risk".