DOSSIER DEATH: HUNT FOR CLUES: Blair on the rack

TONY BLAIR was stripped of his dignity on the world stage yesterday as he was accused of having "blood on his hands" over the death of weapons expert David Kelly.

A tired and strained PM was left stony-faced and speechless in a tense press conference in Japan with Premier Junichiro Koizumi.

A reporter challenged the PM: "Have you got blood on your hands Prime Minister? Are you going to resign over this?"

As aides gasped, Mr Blair fixed an icy stare into the distance and a stunned silence fell across the room. Then Mr Koizumi hurriedly ushered him out of the room - but it was clear the question had hit home.

Earlier, the pale and drawn PM mumbled and seemed distracted. As questions were fired about Dr Kelly his voice broke and he looked shaken. He had tried to dodge the issue with a hastily arranged statement to a TV camera.

In it he said: "This is a terrible tragedy and I am profoundly saddened for David Kelly and his family. He was a fine public servant who did an immense amount of good for his country and I am sure would have done so again.

"There is now going to be a due process and a proper and independent inquiry and I believe that should be allowed to establish the facts. In the meantime all of us, politicians and media alike, should show some respect and restraint."

He ducked two questions on whether spin chief Alastair Campbell or Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon had offered to resign.

Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith called on him to recall MPs and set up a Parliamentary tribunal, saying it could report much faster.

Former Minister Glenda Jackson demanded that Mr Blair should resign. "Bullets should be bitten", she said. "It seems to me the Prime Minister should be reconsidering his position."

And left-wing Labour MP Diane Abbott called on Mr Hoon to quit, warning of "incalculable consequences" over the tragedy.

She said Mr Hoon gave Dr Kelly's name to BBC chairman Gavyn Davies. She also urged Mr Campbell to "consider his position".

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