Bush-Blair signed secret deal before Iraq invasion

London, Nov 27: In a sensational revelation to the US led invasion of Iraq, a top British diplomat said that secret deal to topple Saddam Hussain was signed between Bush and Blair much before the invasion was made.

Sir Christopher Meyer, UK's ambassador to the US in the Iraq war said that an agreement was signed between the then British prime minister Tony Blair and US president George Bush on Apr 2002 at the president's Crawford residence in the absence of their advisers.

"To this day I am not entirely clear what degree of convergence was, if you like, signed in blood at the Crawford ranch. They weren't there to talk about containment or even strengthening sanctions," Meyer said.

Meyer told the British inquiry into the Iraq War, that the meeting led to a change in Blair's stance on Iraq war.

He also said that had Britain been firm about the conditions of joining the war, then Britain could have been more influential in the US-led invasion .

"I think that would have changed the nature of American planning. By the time you get to the end of the year it's too late. I did say to London that we were being taken for granted," he said.

OneIndia News