Menzies Campbell

Regime change in Iraq will not work if it is brought about by American imperialism, the Liberal Democrats have warned.

The party' foreign affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell told his party's conference in Brighton that there was no authorisation in international law allowing "regime change" by military force.

Campbell praised the government's dossier on Saddam Hussein as "careful and considered" but it was not enough to justify war in the Gulf.

The government's response had to be built around what was necessary in Iraq and what was "essential in the interests of the people of the UK".

"The people of the United Kingdom are entitled to full and comprehensive answers before they can be expected to give an endorsement of military action," he told the conference.

The senior Lib Dem repeated his party's call for the peace process in the Middle East to be restarted.

He supported a resolution debated by delegates which called for the UN Security Council to be given priority in dealing with Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

"We must in good faith the offer for the return of the inspectors. And the United Kingdom government should do everything in its power to see that the system of inspection, that the destruction of weapons of mass destruction and the disarmourment of Iraq can be achieved," Campbell said.

The party also signalled it would support British military action - but only as a last resort and if the government produces clearer evidence of the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.

Campbell warned his party's members not to indulge in "crude anti-Americanism".

"This is not time for children of the 60s like myself to get out the Bob Dylan records and replay those old ant-Vietnam war songs" he said.