Welsh MPs may rebel against Tony Blair's stance on Iraq

MPs were voting on an amendment that said the case for war "is as yet unproven", with a total of 199 MPs voting in favour of the amendment and 393 voting against.

Ten Welsh Labour MPs had previously signed a Commons motion supporting the amendment.

The House of Commons had spent the day debating the rights and wrongs of a possible war with Iraq.

The vote took place just after 1900 GMT.

Labour MPs voting for the motion Martin Caton, Gower Denzil Davies, Llanelli Huw Edwards, Monmouth Paul Flynn, Newport West Hywel Francis, Aberavon Jon Owen Jones, Cardiff Central Martyn Jones, Clwyd South Julie Morgan, Cardiff North Albert Owen, Ynys Mon Llew Smith, Blaenau Gwent Alan Williams, Swansea West Betty Williams, Conwy

A 13th MP, Jackie Lawrence from Preseli Pembrokeshire, who had previously signed the motion, was unable to vote because she was ill.

However, a spokesman for Ms Lawrence told BBC Wales she was positively not abstaining.

All four Plaid Cymru MP and both Liberal Democrat MPs in Wales voted for the amendment.

Rebel MPs had said the case for war on Iraq had still to be proven beyond doubt by Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W Bush.

In total, 122 Labour backbenchers, along with members of other parties, voted against the amendment, although the government gained support from the majority of Conservatives.

Jon Owen Jones, one of the rebels, said the strength of feeling among Welsh MPs appeared to be higher than in other parts of the country, and would create an "interesting backdrop" to the Welsh Labour conference in Swansea on Thursday and Friday.

""In voting against the government, Wales must be higher than other areas of the UK."

"Parliament voted two-thirds for the government and one-third against - in Wales it was almost 50/50.

"It will create an interesting backdrop for the Wales Labour Conference tomorrow and if members are not allowed to vote there it would be an indefensible position," he said.

Cynon Valley MP Ann Clwyd, who has often criticised government policy, this time spoke in support of it, citing personal evidence from trips to Iraq to back her case.

I believe in regime change, and I say that without any hesitation at all, and I will support the government tonight because I think it's doing a brave thing Ann Clwyd MP

She gave horrific accounts of the suffering inflicted on ethnic minorities in Iraq such as the Kurds.

"That's the reality of Saddam's Iraq," she said. "When I hear people calling for more time, I say who is going to speak up for those victims?

"The regime should be indicted for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

"I believe in regime change, and I say that without any hesitation at all, and I will support the government tonight because I think it's doing a brave thing."

Bridgend MP Wyn Griffiths, a former minister, also supported Tony Blair's position.

He said: "Certainly I believe in supporting this resolution tonight that there should be a second UN resolution and there should be a vote in this House to support the ongoing pressure on Saddam Hussein."

He said he was "happy" to support the government in the belief that MPs would get more time for inspections if needed.

A second vote, this time to support a government motion - effectively giving Saddam Hussein a final warning - was passed by 434 votes to 124 - another significant rebellion.