Iraq war was 'right thing to do': Blair

"It is better to be rid of Saddam Hussein," Blair told students at elite Tsinghua University.

The Prime Minister, nearing the end of a marathon Asian tour, was speaking a day after holding talks with Chinese leaders to heal strains in relations over the Iraq war, which Beijing opposed.

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Blair said coalition inspectors in Iraq were still looking for evidence of programs to make weapons of mass destruction, but added, "I have no doubts that Iraq was trying to develop these weapons."

The Prime Minister, with his characteristic wide grin back on his face after a difficult start to his Asian tour, seemed pleased to take questions during the informal, 45-minute session.

Blair is facing controversy at home over disputed weapons intelligence used to justify war in Iraq. He has rejected demands by opposition lawmakers to cut short his Asian trip and recall parliament following the suicide of military adviser David Kelly.

Responding to a student who asked whether he had any regrets about going to war, Blair said, "I believe that no matter how difficult it was, it was the right thing to do. In terms of the security of the world and the suffering of the Iraqi people, it is better to be rid of Saddam Hussein."