Spy chief: 45 minutes Iraq WMD claim should not have been published

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Sir David Omand, the Intelligence and Security Co-ordinator at the height of the war, is the most senior former member of the Blair team to criticise the decision to include the claim in the Downing Street dossier on Iraq's weapons.

Sir David made clear MI6 and other intelligence agents were "reluctant" to publish sensitive material because of security fears.

The former Cabinet Office official, who gave evidence to the Iraq inquiry today, was quizzed about his role in drafting the dossier and overseeing other intelligence in the run-up to war in 2003.

But the Standard can reveal Sir David has made clear his private views on the issue in a book by academic Anthony Glees in which he is quoted as saying the MI6 intelligence report on the 45 minutes claim was "taken as colour" to back up the wider case that Saddam posed a threat.

Sir David gave a staunch public defence of the former prime minister at the Hutton Inquiry, but is understood to be privately critical.

Sir David's "colour" point suggests that those drafting the dossier wanted to include the claim to strengthen their case.

Mr Blair's case for war appeared to be bolstered today by documents that made plain Britain's intelligence experts were convinced Saddam did still have WMD in 2003.