Downing Street has again resisted calls to publish the full legal advice on the Iraq war.

Demands by former premier John Major for the publication of the attorney general's legal advice were flatly rejected on Monday.

The official spokesman repeated that convention dictated that advice had to remain private and that the rule would be followed.

"The attorney general gave his advice as successive attorneys general have given their advice," he said.

"It's precisely because of the need to be able to give frank and free advice that the convention has been that such advice is given in private. That's how it operated, that's what happened."

Concern

Shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram said that the issue was not likely to go away soon.

"This is a matter of crucial importance in terms of public confidence in the way that governments conduct themselves in the run-up to war," he said.

And Liberal Democrat spokesman Sir Menzies Campbell said it would be better for the government to release the documents now than as a "last resort".

"Events appear to be taking an inexorable turn," he said.

"Sooner or later, one way or another, the whole of the attorney general's advice is going to be published.

"The government would be well advised to do so willingly and not as a last resort."

The official spokesman also rejected claims that the reputation of the security services had been damaged by the rows of recent days.

"The worldwide reputation of our security services is well-known and respected and will continue to be so," he said.