Blair: Iraq war claim 'nonsense'
TONY Blair distanced himself yesterday from claims that Labour ministers were ordered to "destroy" a document warning that the Iraq invasion was illegal.
Tony Blair has distanced himself from the claims
A report described "pandemonium" on the eve of the 2003 Iraq War when Lord Goldsmith, the former Attorney General, told Mr Blair that the conflict could be challenged under international law.
Ministers and officials with a copy of his 13-page opinion were said to have been told: "Burn it. Destroy it."
The advice given was that the action was legal
The peer changed his mind 10 days later.
Geoff Hoon, the then Labour defence secretary, was among those said to have been given the order. He was reported to have ignored the instruction.
Lord Goldsmith told Mr Blair the conflict could be challenged under international law
A Sunday newspaper quoted a senior No10 figure as saying: "There was pandemonium. They said 'burn it, destroy it' and got to work on the AG [Lord Goldsmith]."
A spokesman for Tony Blair's office said: "This is nonsense as far as Tony Blair knows. No one ever said that in his presence. The advice given was that the action was legal."