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To remove President Saddam Hussein from power still remains the main aim of disarming Iraq, British Prime Minister said on Tuesday, adding that "a huge amount has been achieved" since the US-led war on Iraq began last Thursday.
Addressing his first monthly press conference here, the Prime Minister pledged to the Iraqi people that the US-led coalition will "this time" not let them down.
"My message to them is that this time we will not let you down. Saddam and his regime will be removed. Iraq will have a better future," Blair said.
"Our aim remains as has been stated -- to remove Saddam as the route to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction -- so the progress towards Baghdad is of vital strategic importance," he said.
As to the reconstruction of the post-war Iraq, Blair said that London and Washington have agreed that the United Nations should play an active role in rebuilding Iraq.
"It is common ground between us that the UN has got to be involved in post-conflict Iraq," Blair said.
He argued that the deconstruction in Iraq was not caused by the current US-led military operation, adding Iraq needed to be rebuilt because of the 20-year rule by Saddam Hussein.
(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2003)
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