Griffiths calls for unity over TUC Iraq resolution

"Every effort must now be made to maintain the unity achieved between the trade union and anti-war movements in Britain against the war and occupation in Iraq," he urged.

"It is significant that the Labour Party conference did not endorse the position of the new Labour government in support of the invasion.

"However, the decision made by some trade union delegations at the Labour Party conference not to support setting a date for the early withdrawal of British troops was mistaken and taken on advice which did not fully reflect the position of the IFTU," he added.

Mr Griffiths also said that the condemnatory terms used to attack IFTU and British trade union leaders in the Morning Star and other papers "have not helped to resolve the problem.

"What is required urgently is the determination to work together to end the imperialist occupation and to assist the workers and peoples of Iraq to restore their popular organisations," he insisted.

Mr Griffiths added that the people must "elect a genuinely sovereign government which, alone, has the authority to invite the UN and other international agencies to help rebuild their country,"

He was speaking after a meeting between representatives of the Communist Party of Britain, the Iraqi Communist Party and the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions.