Tony Blair and opposition about Iraqi war

In an embarrassing about-face ahead of elections, Prime Minister &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/mailbox/22/101/399/15000_blair.html ' target=_blank>Tony Blair on Thursday released a secret memo warning of the legal consequences of invading Iraq without a second U.N. resolution.

Blair had long refused to publish the March 7, 2003 document from Attorney General &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/365/11817_trawler.html ' target=_blank>Lord Goldsmith, saying it was confidential. Instead, the prime minister had consistently pointed to the written statement Goldsmith gave to parliament 10 days later, which said the war would be legal without another resolution.

Political opponents, who pressured Blair into releasing the text after it was leaked Wednesday night, said it showed the prime minister had deceived Britain a charge Blair denied, reports ABC News.