Financial Times FT.com

Britain failed to establish ‘legitimacy’ of Iraq invasion

By Alex Barker, Political Correspondent

Published: November 27 2009 13:23 | Last updated: November 27 2009 18:08

The US and UK launched a war to topple Saddam Hussein in spite of failing to “establish the legitimacy” of the invasion, according to Britain’s former ambassador to the United Nations.

Sir Jeremy Greenstock on Friday told the Iraq inquiry that while there was sufficient “legal cover” for war to topple Saddam Hussein it was of “questionable legitimacy”.

Former British ambassador to the United Nations Sir Jeremy Greenstock gives evidence to the Iraq inquiry in Westminster, London.

Sir Jeremy Greenstock, former British ambassador to the United Nations, tell the Iraq inquiry 'If you do something internationally that the majority of UN member states think is wrong, illegitimate or politically unjustifiable, you are taking a risk in my view'.