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| Service honours UK Iraq personnel | Service honours UK Iraq personnel |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| A service of commemoration honouring British military and civilian personnel who served in Iraq has been held at St Paul's Cathedral, London. | A service of commemoration honouring British military and civilian personnel who served in Iraq has been held at St Paul's Cathedral, London. |
| Veterans and relatives of the 179 killed took part in the service, with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. | Veterans and relatives of the 179 killed took part in the service, with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, used his address to praise the efforts of the troops in Iraq. | The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, used his address to praise the efforts of the troops in Iraq. |
| But he criticised policy makers for failing to consider the human and other costs of the conflict. | But he criticised policy makers for failing to consider the human and other costs of the conflict. |
| AT THE SCENE Andy McFarlane, BBC News, St Paul's Cathedral | AT THE SCENE Andy McFarlane, BBC News, St Paul's Cathedral |
| Many words were spoken during the hour-long service but it was the simple act of lighting a memorial candle that said everything for those gathered. | Many words were spoken during the hour-long service but it was the simple act of lighting a memorial candle that said everything for those gathered. |
| A tense, heavy silence lingered over the 2,500 people amassed in the cathedral before the haunting voice of the choir filled its great dome. | A tense, heavy silence lingered over the 2,500 people amassed in the cathedral before the haunting voice of the choir filled its great dome. |
| Tracey Hazel - one of 179 mothers to lose a child in Iraq - stepped forward to light the wick. | Tracey Hazel - one of 179 mothers to lose a child in Iraq - stepped forward to light the wick. |
| Heads were bowed in contemplation, people's minds were doubtless thousands of miles away in a more inhospitable place. | Heads were bowed in contemplation, people's minds were doubtless thousands of miles away in a more inhospitable place. |
| As the flame caught, there was no emotional outpouring. Across the hall hands wiped away tears in silent, dignified grief, until the archbishop's voice dragged them back to the present. href="/2/hi/uk_news/8299347.stm">Silent grief fills St Paul's class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8298805.stm">In pictures: Iraq memorial | |
| Tony Blair, prime minister when the conflict began in 2003, was among the congregation, joining current PM Gordon Brown, former heads of the Army Sir Mike Jackson and Sir Richard Dannatt and former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon. | Tony Blair, prime minister when the conflict began in 2003, was among the congregation, joining current PM Gordon Brown, former heads of the Army Sir Mike Jackson and Sir Richard Dannatt and former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon. |
| The father of one soldier who died in Iraq refused to shake Mr Blair's hand after the ceremony. | The father of one soldier who died in Iraq refused to shake Mr Blair's hand after the ceremony. |
| Instead, Peter Brierley told the former PM: "I'm not shaking your hand, you've got blood on it." | Instead, Peter Brierley told the former PM: "I'm not shaking your hand, you've got blood on it." |
| Mr Brierley's son L/Cpl Shaun Brierley was killed in a road accident in Iraq 2003. Afterwards Mr Brierley said he thought Mr Blair was a "war criminal" who should not have been invited to the service. | Mr Brierley's son L/Cpl Shaun Brierley was killed in a road accident in Iraq 2003. Afterwards Mr Brierley said he thought Mr Blair was a "war criminal" who should not have been invited to the service. |
| He said: "I understand soldiers go to war and die but they have to go to war for a good reason and be properly equipped to fight. | He said: "I understand soldiers go to war and die but they have to go to war for a good reason and be properly equipped to fight. |
| "I believe Tony Blair is a war criminal. I can't bear to be in the same room as him", he added. | "I believe Tony Blair is a war criminal. I can't bear to be in the same room as him", he added. |
| "I believe he's got the blood of my son and all of the other men and women who died out there on his hands." | "I believe he's got the blood of my son and all of the other men and women who died out there on his hands." |
| About 120,000 members of the UK armed forces and civilians served in Iraq. British combat operations there officially ended on 30 April, with a ceremony in Basra. | About 120,000 members of the UK armed forces and civilians served in Iraq. British combat operations there officially ended on 30 April, with a ceremony in Basra. |
| Other senior royals, including Prince Charles, Prince William, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Princess Royal took part in the service, as did the Tory leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg. | Other senior royals, including Prince Charles, Prince William, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Princess Royal took part in the service, as did the Tory leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg. |
| Dr Williams said the conflict in Iraq would exercise historians, moralists and international experts for many years to come. | Dr Williams said the conflict in Iraq would exercise historians, moralists and international experts for many years to come. |
| He said: "In a world as complicated as ours has become, it would be a very rash person who would feel able to say without hesitation, this was absolutely the right or the wrong thing to do, the right or the wrong place to be." | He said: "In a world as complicated as ours has become, it would be a very rash person who would feel able to say without hesitation, this was absolutely the right or the wrong thing to do, the right or the wrong place to be." |
| The Archbishop added that events had thrown up an important lesson - to avoid exaggerated rhetoric in the build-up to the war. | The Archbishop added that events had thrown up an important lesson - to avoid exaggerated rhetoric in the build-up to the war. |
| "Perhaps we have learnt something, if only that there is a time to keep silence, a time to let go of the satisfyingly overblown language that is so tempting to human beings when war is in the air," he said. | "Perhaps we have learnt something, if only that there is a time to keep silence, a time to let go of the satisfyingly overblown language that is so tempting to human beings when war is in the air," he said. |
| He blessed the centrepiece of the "Basra Wall", built by troops in front of the 20th Armoured Brigade's Iraqi HQ to honour fallen comrades. | He blessed the centrepiece of the "Basra Wall", built by troops in front of the 20th Armoured Brigade's Iraqi HQ to honour fallen comrades. |
| The wall, with its brass plaques and marble centre stone, was the focal point of the memorial service in April to mark the end of the UK operation. | The wall, with its brass plaques and marble centre stone, was the focal point of the memorial service in April to mark the end of the UK operation. |
| It is to be rebuilt at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, with the help of a contribution from the Iraqi government. | It is to be rebuilt at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, with the help of a contribution from the Iraqi government. |
| The Defence Secretary, Bob Ainsworth, said the Archbishop had not criticised the government but agreed politicians should always carefully consider the consequence before going to war. | The Defence Secretary, Bob Ainsworth, said the Archbishop had not criticised the government but agreed politicians should always carefully consider the consequence before going to war. |
| "I know that it's popular and fashionable to believe that MPs take these decisions lightly. They don't," he said. | "I know that it's popular and fashionable to believe that MPs take these decisions lightly. They don't," he said. |
| UK fatalities in Iraq: In images Emotions as UK honours Iraq force | UK fatalities in Iraq: In images Emotions as UK honours Iraq force |
| "I never took the decision lightly before I voted on Iraq - I don't know of anybody else that did, from any party." | "I never took the decision lightly before I voted on Iraq - I don't know of anybody else that did, from any party." |
| A candle was lit during the ceremony on behalf of those who lost their lives by Tracey Hazel, mother of Cpl Ben Leaning, 24, from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, who was killed when his armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in April 2007. | A candle was lit during the ceremony on behalf of those who lost their lives by Tracey Hazel, mother of Cpl Ben Leaning, 24, from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, who was killed when his armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in April 2007. |
| She said she felt "privileged and honoured" to perform the task. | She said she felt "privileged and honoured" to perform the task. |
| She said: "At the end of the day, I wanted to be here for Ben and all the fallen - I feel so privileged. | She said: "At the end of the day, I wanted to be here for Ben and all the fallen - I feel so privileged. |
| "It was so nice they chose one of the parents to do it, as it's them that are left suffering when a loved one dies." | "It was so nice they chose one of the parents to do it, as it's them that are left suffering when a loved one dies." |
| Prayers were read by representatives of each of the armed forces. | Prayers were read by representatives of each of the armed forces. |
| Capt Jon Pentreath, head of the Commando Helicopter Force which supported the Royal Marines' amphibious operations over five years, read a prayer on behalf of the Royal Navy. | Capt Jon Pentreath, head of the Commando Helicopter Force which supported the Royal Marines' amphibious operations over five years, read a prayer on behalf of the Royal Navy. |
| He said the service would give personnel much-needed recognition. | He said the service would give personnel much-needed recognition. |
| "It's important for the nation to understand what members of the armed forces and their families are going through," he said. | "It's important for the nation to understand what members of the armed forces and their families are going through," he said. |
| Also involved was Sir John Chilcot, who is chairing the inquiry into the conflict. | Also involved was Sir John Chilcot, who is chairing the inquiry into the conflict. |
| He has invited those who served in Iraq to submit evidence to the inquiry, which is also hearing from bereaved families. | He has invited those who served in Iraq to submit evidence to the inquiry, which is also hearing from bereaved families. |
| After the service, the Queen departed for Mansion House, for a lunch with veterans of the conflict. | After the service, the Queen departed for Mansion House, for a lunch with veterans of the conflict. |