Blair: 'Iraq should be run by Iraqis'

Iraq should be run by Iraqi people as soon as possible after the war ends, the Prime Minister has insisted.

At Commons question time, Tony Blair said he favoured a "broadly representative" Iraqi government that protected human rights - rather than the country being run by the UN or the coalition.

Challenged by Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith about the post-conflict situation, he said, to murmurs of support from Labour backbenchers:

"As soon as possible, Iraq should not be run either by the coalition or by the UN - it should be run by Iraqis.

"It should be run by Iraqi people on basis of a broadly representative government that protects human rights and that is committed to peace and stability in the region.

"I am quite sure that is what the vast majority of the Iraqi people want to see."

The Prime Minister said that people in southern Iraq were increasingly expressing their commitment to ousting Saddam Hussein as they became more confident that the allies were there to stay.

Mr Blair added that Britain had "absolutely no plans" to invade Syria or Iran in response to their alleged assistance of Baghdad.

Earlier, the Prime Minister said Britain wanted an interim administration "run by Iraqis" to take control of the country from the military as soon as possible.

The Prime Minister told MPs: "There's bound to be a situation in transition where the coalition forces are de facto in control, that's necessarily the case. But our aim is to move as soon as possible to an Iraqi interim authority which will be run by Iraqis."

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