Blair: motivated by 'fear'

Mr Blair has told party members he sees evidence of terrorist plotting on an almost daily basis to find a "chink through the security infrastructure that protects our nations and others".

His speech comes a day after anti-war activists attempted to force the conference to debate the crisis, albeit unsuccessfully.

Mr Blair said fear was his motivation for being tough with Iraq.

He spoke of a "living nightmare" which the world could be plunged into if a state or terrorist group used chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

No matter how hard the decision, I will try to do what I believe to be right Tony Blair

"I know many of you find it hard to understand why I care so deeply about this. I tell you: it is fear.

"Not the fear that Saddam is about to launch a strike on a British town or city tomorrow or the next day.

"Not a conventional fear about a conventional threat.

"But the fear that one day these new threats of weapons of mass destruction, rogue states and international terrorism combine to deliver a catastrophe to our world; and the shame then of knowing that I saw that threat, day after day, and I did nothing to stop it."

"I cannot, and I will not, do that. No matter how hard the decision, I will try to do what I believe to be right."

Up to 200 anti-war protesters, including members of the Labour party, gathered outside the conference to press their message.

They booed Mr Blair as he arrived to speak at the conference, and was swiftly taken inside the building.

I'm here because I want peace and I don't want to see innocent civilians killed in a war Muktadar Khan, protester

People chanted slogans against the prime minister from behind iron barriers which kept them away from Brangwyn Hall, the conference venue.

"Swansea restaurant worker Muktadar Khan, 27, said: "He should have stopped and acknowledged the extent of the protest here.

"I'm here because I want peace and I don't want to see innocent civilians killed in a war.

"The majority of people feel like that in Britain but Mr Blair just ignored us."

Police banned speakers from using sound equipment, forcing veteran anti-war MP George Galloway to deliver a speech over a megaphone.

The veteran MP for Glasgow Kelvin warned that if Mr Blair destroyed the Labour party, he and others would set up a new Labour party.