March 18, 2003	Tuesday	Muharram 14, 1424

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LONDON, March 17: British Prime Minister Tony Blair suffered his biggest political blow of the Iraq crisis on Monday when a senior cabinet minister resigned in protest at the prospect of war and another said she may follow.

“As I cannot give my support to military action...I write with regret to resign,” Robin Cook said in a letter to Blair. “In principle I believe it is wrong to embark on military action without broad international support.”

His resignation came as the United States issued an ultimatum to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to leave the country or face war after diplomatic efforts to win United Nations backing for military action collapsed.

The diplomatic impasse confirmed Mr Blair’s worst nightmare.

The embattled prime minister faces a vote on a Gulf war in parliament on Tuesday and the prospect of a massive rebellion by his own party. Cook’s resignation, the first time a cabinet member has quit in protest over policy since Mr Blair took power, could also lead other disgruntled ministers to walk.

Last month, 122 Labour members of parliament, more than one in four, defied Mr Blair’s hawkish Iraq stance. Rebels in Mr Blair’s ruling party say that number could rise by another 40 this time.—Reuters