AS 6,000 police officers flooded the capital in an unprecedented show of strength to reassure Londoners, Osama bin Laden's lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahri was warning of more attacks.

And the blame was being pinned on Tony Blair for his foreign policies and involvement in the war in Iraq.

A month on from the London bombings, which killed 56 people, it was a predictable address designed to make London an even more jittery city than it already is.

But what al-Zawahri's rantings failed to acknowledge is that, for all the controversy and debate surrounding the invasion of Iraq, it was welcomed by the majority of Muslims living there.

That was because it led to Saddam Hussein and his barbarous regime being ousted from power and it enabled the Iraqi people to elect a democratic government which has at least given hope of a better future.

Iraq remains a terrible mess which Britain has a duty to help clear up. And while we all want to see our troops brought home as soon as possible, their return can only be given the go-ahead when that duty is fulfilled.

Tony Blair is not to blame for the London bombings. The only ones to blame are the fanatics who are using what has happened in Iraq as an excuse for killing innocent people, and as an incentive to recruit suicide bombers.

There is no justification for terrorism.