The British prime minister has again justified his decision to go to war in Iraq.
Speaking on a surprise visit to British troops in Basra, Mr Blair said that if Britain had backed away from the conflict, it would never have been able to confront this threat in the other countries where it existed.
His visit comes ahead of the judicial report later this month from the Hutton inquiry into events surrounding the death of weapons expert, David Kelly, later this month.
Dr Kelly committed suicide last summer after it was revealed that had been the source for a BBC report claiming Mr Blair's government had exaggerated the threat from Iraqi weapons.
