WEST Devon Liberal Democrat MP John Burnett says he supports his party leader Charles Kennedy?s view that Britain would be unwise to join America in a unilateral assault on Iraq without a United Nations mandate.
Mr Burnett said: ?We have to be absolutely clear that there?s a legitimate reason for using military force in Iraq.
?We have to act within international law and the use of military force should be a last resort.
?Therefore, I don?t believe action should be taken against Iraq unless and until, first, there?s unequivocal evidence that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction, and second, that military action has been sanctioned by a further UN resolution.
?However, if the government makes the decision to commit the armed forces to action, then all parties will coalesce to support our troops and give them our whole\]hearted support.?
Mr Burnett is a former troop commander who served in Borneo and the Middle East with 40 and 42 Commando Royal Marines.