Salmond: Attack on Blair

Opponents of the war in Iraq have spoken out strongly against the likely re-election of George W Bush.

Labour MPs opposed to the conflict and leading anti-war MPs said Tony Blair may have contributed to the president's re-election by the recent deployment of Black Watch forces to an area outside Baghdad.

Speaking as it appeared Bush was heading to the White House for a further four years, SNP leader Alex Salmond rounded on the Labour leader.

"The president's likely re-election will be greeted with dismay around the world as people in most countries fear the prospect of further costly foreign policy adventures," he said.

"That dismay will certainly stretch through the ranks of the parliamentary Labour Party.

"Blair's pact with Bush has presented the president with vital political covering fire from the illegal invasion of Iraq to the current deployment of the Black Watch."

Salmond, who opposed the conflict, said Blair "carries responsibility for a Bush victory".

"If it wasn't quite 'Blair what won it' then he certainly gave a helping hand to his big pal.

"Even Alastair Campbell now admits that his former boss has taken 'a big political hit' over his relationship with President Bush.

"Amid today's celebrations in Downing Street will be the underlying fear that Blair will reap a political whirlwind for backing Bush."