UNDERSTANDABLY, most of the media's attention at the meeting between the US President and the Prime Minister concerned the whereabouts of Saddam Hussein.

But while the fate of the Iraqi dictator has some short-term fascination, George Bush and Tony Blair focused on more long-term issues.

With victory seemingly in sight, their thoughts have now turned to what lies in store for Iraq post-war.

Securing a viable and secure peace in Iraq will not be easy.

After quarter of a century in power, Saddam Hussein's totalitarian regime dominated every aspect of daily life in Iraq. Everyone in power - from the humblest civil servants to senior ministers - were tainted by the Ba'athist regime.

Creating a new administration from scratch will be very arduous. The fear within Iraq, and within the wider Middle East, is that a dictatorship appointed by America will simply replace a dictatorship appointed by Saddam.

This is precisely why it is wise to bring on board the United Nations to re-build Iraq.

Mr Blair is to be applauded for his efforts in getting the President, still smarting from the debacle over the second resolution, to concede that the UN must play a "vital role" in reconstruction.

Only under the auspices of the UN does the strategy of leaving Iraq to be run by the Iraqis have any credibility.

Mr Bush must be pressed to keep his word. The true test will not be merely what the President says, but how the role of the UN is defined in the interim government.

09/04/2003