THE Archbishop of York today joined attacks on Tony Blair over his claims about Saddam Hussein's weapons arsenal.

Former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and the Bishop of Durham, the Right Rev Tom Wright, also attacked the Prime Minister over his conduct of the Iraq war.

The criticisms follow yesterday's rejection by the US official running Iraq of Mr Blair's claim that evidence of Saddam's hidden weapons laboratories had been unearthed.

Paul Bremer, the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, said the claim sounded like a "red herring" put about by someone opposed to military action to undermine the coalition.

Mr Bremer was forced to backtrack when it was pointed out that Washington's staunchest ally, Mr Blair, had made the claim.

The Archbishop, Dr David Hope, also questioned the legitimacy of the war and warned the Prime Minster he would have to answer to God.

Dr Hope, Britain's second most senior church leader, urged people to pray for the Premier and called on him to exercise a "calm, quiet authority".

On the war, Dr Hope said: "It just seemed to me that there was a real lack of listening.

"One of the qualities of a good leader is that they have to be really attentive to the views of the people. It seemed at one stage that was not happening."

"We still have not found any weapons of mass destruction anywhere.

"Are we likely to find any? Does that alter the view as to whether we really ought to have mounted the invasion or not? Undoubtedly, a very wicked leader has been removed but there are wicked leaders in other parts of the world."

Dr Hope told the Prime Minister: "There is a higher authority before whom one day we all have to give an account."

Robin Cook warned Mr Blair that he may never win back public trust after the war.

Mr Cook, who quit the Cabinet over the war, said the lack of trust had undermined the credibility of the Government.

Updated: 10:52 Monday, December 29, 2003