Pressure over No. 10's hand in war advice

LONDON, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- British Conservatives have demanded ministers answer in Parliament allegations the legal advice on the Iraq war was drawn up by Downing Street.

The challenge from Shadow Attorney General Dominic Grieve came in response to documents revealed by the Guardian Thursday suggesting the summary of Attorney General Lord Peter Goldsmith's advice on the legality of the war, given to the House of Lords in a written answer, was in fact put together by Lord Charlie Falconer, then a home office minister, and Baroness Morgan, a Downing Street adviser.

Transcripts of evidence given by the attorney general to the Butler inquiry suggested the advice had been "set out" by the two political staff members.

The Tories demanded the accusations be rebutted in the Commons where they could be cross-questioned, rather than in statements put out by Downing Street or Goldsmith.

Grieve said the allegation Goldsmith's statement -- the full details of which have still not been released by the government -- was written by others, was "disturbing and extraordinary."

The prime minister's official spokesman rejected the claims, saying: "The attorney general made it clear the words and the judgment were his."