By Ma Guihua

    LONDON, May 3 (Xinhuanet) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in a last effort to win Thursday's general election, is all out to shake off the Iraqi nightmare which has been haunting him for the last week.

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair addresses a campaign rally in Hove, Sussex May 1, 2005. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair shakes hands with his supporters in Hove, Sussex May 1, 2005.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    The prime minister suffered his toughest time of the campaign last week when he was forced to publish secret advice from his attorney general Sir Peter Goldsmith that questioned the legality of the Iraq War.

    The war issue, which Blair has spent much of his past two years defending against charges of misleading Britain over the invasion,grueled him again when the Sunday Times newspaper headlined another secret memorandum indicating that he decided to take his country to war eight months before the war broke out in March 2003.

    The leaked documents put Blair to the forefront of the debate on the legality of the war.

    Michael Howard, leader of the main opposition Conservative Party, rose to the godsend opportunity, labeling Blair as "a liar"to the Parliament and the public over the case for war with Iraq.

    About 88 British soldier have been killed in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion. Some families of the killed British soldiers even prepare to lodge a legal suit against Blair for misleading the nation and for the deaths of their dear ones.

    As if this was not enough, a veteran Labor member of parliamentdeclared in public last week that he was leaving Labor for the Liberal Democratic Party for its consistent opposition to the IraqWar. The defection was definitely a new blow to the ambitious labor leader who wants to earn a third stint in Downing Street.

    Blair has professed many times his honesty during the campaign."I have never told a lie. No. I don't intend to go telling lies topeople. I did not lie over Iraq," he said defiantly.

    He explained he had to take a "tough decision" because of the urgency of the situation and argued the decision to go to war was the right one. "Was it better to leave Saddam in power, or put himin prison? I think it was better to put him in prison."

    The Labor leader accused the Tories of attacking his integrity because they had nothing to offer on domestic policy.

    "You have got a Conservative Party whose economic plan has collapsed, whose health service plan they do not want to debate, neither their education policy," he said.

    Although the issue of Iraq has undoubtedly tainted Blair's credibility and trust, it is far from being his Waterloo.

    A latest survey by online YouGov indicated that Labor still garners 36 percent of voter support, three points ahead of the Tory, while the Liberal Democrats got 24 percent.

    In another poll for The Times newspaper, Labor's lead is 13 percent over the Conservatives.

    After a week-long confrontation on Iraq, Blair wants desperately to return to the domestic front.

    Labor's advantage comes mainly from its economic performance, which has boasted a low unemployment rate, low inflation and low interest rates for several decades. Since Blair and his Labor Party came to power in 1997, the growth momentum in Britain has been remarkable, keeping the country the world's No. 4 economy.

    Blair has promised to raise the minimum wage, increase spending in public services such as health and education, crackdown on crime by enforcing the police, control immigration and provide asylum to those genuine seekers, to deal with climate change and environment issues, and let hospitals and schools to cater to individual needs. In his words, "opportunity and prosperity for all."

    Some analysts agreed with Labor's maneuver, noting that for voters, general election is not about politics, but about economy.

    However, the campaign is far from over. Blair has warned that alow turnout among Labor supporters could even see the Conservatives sneak into power.

    A poll in Tuesday's Financial Times newspaper said 36 percent of people could yet switch their vote, a figure which is about 10 percent higher than in the same stages of the last two elections, in 2001 and 1997.

    The Liberal Democrats, the only party which has been consistentin its opposition to the war on Iraq, seems to be the only beneficiary of the tit-for-tat between the two major parties.

    If the wavering Labor supporters continue to move over to the Liberal Democrats, there is the possibility of "Liberal Democrat votes that let the Tories in," Blair warned. Enditem