Tony Blair Apologise For Iraq War

Mr Blair spoke about the war during an interview on US television in which he expressed regret over some aspects of the conflict.

The former prime minister also admitted there was "elements of truth" in the view that the 2003 invasion was the "principal cause" of Islamic State's rise.

Tony Blair has apologised for "mistakes" in the planning of the Iraq war, saying "the intelligence we received" was wrong.

"I apologise for the fact that the intelligence we received was wrong," he told CNN in an interview due to be aired later on Sunday.

"I also apologise for some of the mistakes in planning and, certainly, our mistake in our understanding of what would happen once you removed the regime."

But Mr Blair said he did not regret ousting Saddam Hussein.

"I find it hard to apologize for removing Saddam," Mr Blair said. "I think, even from today in 2015, it is better that he's not there than that he is there."

Asked if the Iraq War was "the principal cause" of the rise of Islamic State, the former Labour leader said: "I think there are elements of truth in that."

He added: "Of course you can't say those of us who removed Saddam in 2003 bear no responsibility for the situation in 2015.

"But it's important also to realise, one, that the Arab Spring which began in 2011 would also have had its impact on Iraq today, and two, ISIS actually came to prominence from a base in Syria and not in Iraq."

His apology has led to claims Mr Blair is trying to "spin" the response to the long-delayed Chilcot Inquiry.