Former United Nations Chief said that British ex-premier Tony Blair was the only person who could prevent the Iraq invasion in the year of 2003.

Former United Nations Chief said that British ex-premier Tony Blair was the only person who could prevent the Iraq invasion in the year of 2003.

In an interview published in Saturday’s edition of the Times newspaper, Annan argued that Blair could have changed former US president George Bush’s mind because of the special relationship between the two nations and the two leaders.

Annan said he often had contemplated what might have happened if "Blair had said 'George, this is where we part company. You're on your own'," following the failure to secure a second UN resolution.
"I really think it could have stopped the war," added the Nobel peace laureate.

Annan was UN secretary general at the time of the crisis.

A first Security Council resolution, which offered Iraq a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations passed unanimously in November 2002.

But a second resolution proposed by the US, Britain, and Spain in 2003 that called for action to be taken against Saddam Hussein's regime was withdrawn when it became clear it would be vetoed.
Annan gave the interview to mark the launch of his memoirs: "Interventions - a Life in War and Peace."