MI6 TOLD: LINK IRAQ AND BIN LADEN
By Oonagh Blackman
Daily Mirror
February 1, 2003
 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12593218&method=full&siteid=50143

BRITAIN'S spies are being pressured by ministers to link Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda.

Both MI6 and military intelligence sources say claims of strong connections between Iraq and al-Qaeda are "far-fetched".

But No10 wants concrete evidence to justify war on Iraq.

An intelligence source said: "The politicians are clutching at straws. There is intense pressure to come up with a smoking gun.

"But Iraq is secular and bin Laden is an Islamic fundamentalist. They're not natural allies."

Last week Tony Blair said there are firm links between Saddam and al-Qaeda - but he could not be sure of their extent.

The Government refused to produce evidence, but hinted it will release details in the future.

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