LONDON, Sept 5: A leading ex-member of the Tony Blair cabinet, Mo Mowlam on Thursday accused President George Bush of planning to attack Iraq “only to control the region and its resources”.

In an article in Guardian, Mo Mowlam, who is a prominent Labour leader, says “hawks” in the Bush administration should know the risks involved and beware of the anti-American feelings throughout the Middle East.

“They must be aware of the fear in Egypt and Saudi Arabia that a war against Iraq could unleash revolutions, disposing of pro- western governments, and replacing them with populist anti- American Islamist fundamentalist regimes”.

Mo Mowlam gave the example of Iran and said that when the Shah was backed by Americans, the result was an Islamic revolution.

She said that the response of the British government to the US stance on Iraq seems to be “confused” and added, “it is hard to see how George Bush can withdraw his bellicose words and also save face, but I hope that is possible.”