The United Nations chief weapons inspector just before the Iraq conflict, Hans Blix, has said Britain was dragged along in a war that was not legally defensible. Mr Blix was speaking to the BBC after appearing at an inquiry in London where he questioned the judgment of President Bush and the Prime Minister Tony Blair in the run-up to the conflict. Mr Blix said the Americans were intoxicated with the idea of military action and thought they could get away with it.

"There was a big difference between the UK attitude and the US. The US did not really care for any international restrictions. They didn't feel a need for what they called a permission slip from the Security Council whilst the UK felt that yes, you would need to have a Security Council authorization. However, the clear simple fact was that in March 2003, three permanent members of the Security Council were against the use of force, but they could not have got a majority in the council for such a resolution."