Cook now trying to rally British Muslims to Blair's side

In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, published yesterday, Cook said the "appalling" occupation of Iraq has only deepened his opposition to the US and British invasion of Iraq in March last year.

But he added that Labour -- which Blair hopes can win a third straight term in power in elections likely to come next year -- still has a "strong case" to pitch to Britain's estimated two million Muslims.

"There is a general recognition that we have pursued policies that have been fair to the ethnic (minority) communities," said Cook, a former foreign seczetary and leader of the House on Commons.