Blair will back call for the return of weapons inspectors

Tony Blair made clear yesterday that Britain wanted UN weapons inspectors to be re-admitted to Iraq to offer independent verification of any discoveries of chemical or biological munitions in the country.

The Prime Minister revealed to the House of Commons that he and Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, were discussing the issue with the United Nations.

Discovery of any evidence of weapons of mass destruction is vital to Mr Blair's credibility, given that their existence was the central political and legal reason for Britain going to war.

Advice by Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General, made clear that the only ground for the conflict was a breach by Saddam Hussein of UN demands over the weapons included in previous Security Council resolutions.

Other justifications for the war, such as regime change and the threat of weapons being passed to international terrorists, have no legal basis.

US and UK forces have tried in vain to find any evidence of the elusive weapons. But a potential breakthrough came on Monday when 20 medium-range missiles allegedly equipped with nerve agents, sarin and mustard gas were found near Baghdad.

Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory leader, asked Mr Blair what the UK's position was on objectively assessing discoveries of weapons of mass destruction.

"There have been potential finds of illegal missiles, chemicals and suspect warheads. Does the Prime Minister agree with me there should be an independent verification by UN weapons inspectors and what steps are being taken to ensure this should happen?"

Mr Blair replied that "plainly it would be a good idea from every perspective" to make sure there was "some sort of objective verification" of any weapons seized. "As we speak there is obviously an investigation into certain of those weapons that were taken a few days ago. Tests are being carried out, but it is important for the international community as a whole that as we establish control ... we make sure there is a legitimacy given to this so there can be some objective assessment of the truth of the situation," he said.

"Perhaps this allows me to say once again that we have no doubt that these weapons of mass destruction exist. Sometimes people say to me, 'why haven't you been finding them as you've gone through the country?'. The truth is, there has been a six-month campaign of concealment. It is not surprising we have not found these. We need the evidence of the experts and scientists but we are convinced we will get it."

When asked later whether Mr Blair had received similar assurances from President George Bush this week, his official spokesman indicated that UN weapons inspectors would be welcome to verify any finds of chemical or biological weapons made by US and British forces. "We all want the world to see the truth whenever we find weapons of mass destruction," he said.

The firm commitment to UN inspections would be a rebuff for hardliners in the Pentagon who want the US to have its own weapons inspectors assessing any finds. Hans Blix, the UN's chief weapons inspector, was reported to be furious at recent attempts by the Americans to poach members of his inspection team.

Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, claimed last week that he knew where the weapons were hidden. "We know where they are, they are in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north of that," he said.