BRIGHTON (AFP) - Prime Minister Tony Blair refused to apologise for the Iraq war, as he linked the future of Iraq to Britain`s national security.
"I can`t, sincerely at least, apologise for removing Saddam. The world is a better place with Saddam in prison, not in power," Blair told delegates to a round of applause at the annual conference of his Labour Party.
He added that "democracy there (in Iraq) means security here," and that "it is worth staying the course to bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan".
Blair`s speech to thousands of Labour faithful was interrupted before he discussed Iraq by an anti-war protester who shouted, "You`ve got blood on your hands," and then was hustled by security guards out of the hall.
Telling delegates that he wanted to deal "head on" with the Iraq question, Blair admitted that evidence about Saddam`s possession of weapons of mass destruction "has turned out to be wrong".
"I acknowledge that and accept that," he said, prompting loud applause.
He added: "I simply point out, such evidence was agreed by the whole international community, not least because Saddam had used such weapons against his own people and neighbouring countries."
With a general election likely to be held next year, Blair also urged the Labour Party to overcome its divisions over Iraq for the greater good of Britain`s own security.
"I do not minimise whatever differences some of you have with me over Iraq," he said.
"The only healing can come from understanding that the decision, whether agreed with or not, was taken because I believe, genuinely, that Britain`s security depends on it."
Blair also said that he would make the revival of the Middle East peace process his "personal priority" after the US presidential elections.
"This party knows the depth of my commitment to the Middle East peace process and shares my frustration at the lack of progress," Blair told delegates.
"After November, I will make its revival a personal priority," he said, in a clear reference to the US election on November 2 that will determine whether President George W. Bush remains in the White House.
"Two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in an enduring peace, would do more to defeat this terrorism than bullets alone can ever do," the prime minister added.
The quest for peace in the Middle East -- including a diplomatic "road map" that calls for a separate Palestinian state -- has been in limbo as bloody clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians continue.
Blair did not explain how exactly he would try to revive the peace process.
But political analysts said Britain would be in a key position to do so in 2005 when it holds the presidency of both the Group of Eight leading industrialised nations and, from July next year, the European Union.