The first of five members of the British government who said they will resign if Prime Minister Tony Blair goes to war against Iraq without a second United Nations resolution has stepped down.
Mr Andrew Reed, the Labour MP for Loughborough, confirmed that he was quitting as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett. However, Mr Reed stressed that he did not want to undermine Mr Blair's efforts to resolve the Iraqi crisis through the UN.
The Sunday Telegraphsaid five parliamentary private secretaries - the first rung on the government ladder - would be ready to step down. Three of them were aides to cabinet ministers and all were members of parliament.
"There is a point where you have to decide whether this is right or wrong. This is about upholding the authority of the UN," said Mr Michael Jabez Foster MP, who works with Attorney General Lord Goldsmith.
The United States and Britain are sponsoring a UN Security Council resolution to give Iraq an ultimatum to destroy any banned weapons by March 17th or face war. Washington has vowed to attack Iraq with or without UN approval.
Many parliamentarians in Mr Blair's Labour Party are alarmed by the proposed ultimatum and have already warned of an even bigger rebellion than last week's protest in which 122 Labour MPs voted against Mr Blair's tough policy on Iraq.
The motion itself was soundly defeated by a 393-199 parliamentary vote, thanks in good part to solidarity within Mr Blair's cabinet and support from the opposition Conservatives.
But the fact that 121 out of 412 Labour MPs were among the 199 who voted for the motion was a sign of how deeply the party is divided on the crisis.
Deputy Prime Minister Mr John Prescott tried to play down the threat of a deepening rift.
Speaking on BBC television, Mr Prescott said the majority of Labour MPs would continue to support Mr Blair's stance.
"I would say so, but that's a matter for the party. I don't think there's any doubt about it whatsoever," he said when asked if Mr Blair's position was secure.
"Tony Blair is giving leadership. That's what this party wants from Tony Blair and we will go on seeking to get that second resolution at the UN which we're fighting very hard for and then of course parliament perhaps will want to make a point of view on a vote on that," he said.
Agencies