DEPTFORD'S MP Joan Ruddock and Lewisham East MP Bridget Prentice attended the emergency House of Commons debate, yesterday.

Joan Ruddock told News Shopper she opposed military action because it was questionable whether the USA's aims would be achieved.

She said: "Saddam Hussein is a vile dictator but we must test his proposals. The risks to the Middle East, particularly in relation to Palestine and Israel, are too great to justify a military strike."

The MP, who recently returned from Afghanistan, also said that military action could encourage "fanatical suicide bomber types" to take control of Iraq.

But Lewisham East MP Bridget Prentice said the international community was right to be sceptical of Saddam and she would support military action with the backing of the UN.

Councillor Barrie Anderson, leader of the Conservative group at Lewisham Council, called for "immediate and robust action" to deal with Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

He said: "This is the only way to guarantee we don't have to use a nuclear option to tackle Saddam if he develops his own nuclear weapons.

"There have to be inspections. I would back military action if it had UN backing."