Tony Blair has called for "respect and restraint" following the suicide of government weapons inspector Dr David Kelly.

The comments came as the police confirmed that Dr Kelly died after slitting his wrist.

The prime minister took time out from a visit to Japan to pay tribute to "a fine public servant" who became the victim of a war of words between the government, special advisers and the BBC.

In an attempt to isolate what looks set become a major crisis for the government, Tony Blair insisted the investigation into Dr Kelly's death must be allowed to take its "proper course".

A post mortem on the body of the man found yesterday was conducted late on Friday night at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Appealing for calm the prime minister made a carefully worded statement.

"I'm going to make a short statement and I don't intend to say anything more about this issue," Blair said on Saturday.

"This is an absolutely terrible tragedy. I'm profoundly saddened for David Kelly and for his family.

"He was a fine public servant who did an immense amount of good for his country in the past and I'm sure would have done so again in the future.

"There is now, however, going to be a due process and a proper and independent inquiry and I believe that should be allowed to establish the facts.

"And I hope we can set aside the speculation and the claims and the counter-claims and allow that due process to take its proper course."

The prime minister called for a period of calm until all the facts were known.

"In the meantime all of us, the politicians and the media alike, should show some respect and restraint. That's all I intend to say," said Blair.

At a later press conference following talks with the Japanese prime minister, Blair refused to say whether Alastair Campbell or Geoff Hoon had offered their resignations.

"I totally understand why you would like me to go back into what I said earlier," said the prime minister.

"I'm not going to do that because I think what is important now is that there is some due process.

"And the reason for having an inquiry, and I think people would have expected us to have one because of the tragedy that as occurred, is so that the facts can be established.

"And I don't think it is right for anyone, ourselves or anybody else, to make a judgment until we have the facts."