TONY BLAIR put British forces on notice for war in the clearest warning yet that combat with Iraq is imminent.

“The key thing at the moment is to make sure that we are building up the capacity in the region — both the Americans and ourselves — and that we are able to undertake this mission if it falls to us to do so,” he said yesterday in a special BBC Christmas message to the Forces.

He heaped praise on the Armed Forces, thanking them for their “extraordinary work” during the year, including peacekeeping in Afghanistan and covering for the firefighters during their recent strike.

The Prime Minister apologised for the uncertainty facing those who might be mobilised, but said that he simply did not know whether Iraq would defy the United Nations weapons inspectors.

Mr Blair will receive crucial backing for action in Iraq from the Church this weekend when the Archbishop of York gives his support for war.

Dr David Hope will say that he would support military action as a last resort to confront the “forces of evil and wickedness”. In an interview for Sky News, to be broadcast tomorrow, the second most senior Anglican bishop said: “I have a very strong antipathy almost ingrained in me towards war and conflict.

“At the end of the day I have to recognise, however, that human nature can be so fallen and dark — the forces of evil and wickedness — these have to be addressed. I would say that in the very last resort it might be possible that we have to resort to war.”

Dr Hope’s support will be welcomed by Mr Blair whose stance on Iraq has been criticised by some Labour MPs and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

In his address to the troops, Mr Blair promised the UN weapons inspectors any help they required. His commitment followed a complaint from Hans Blix, the chief inspector, that his team was not receiving intelligence support from Western powers.

There were also signs last night that the US was on the point of providing intelligence to the inspectors on several suspected chemical wapons sites. In a sign of growing co-operation between the inspectors and the US, Washington is to hand over a list of Iraqi scientists it wants interviewed.

President Bush said last night that Iraq’s weapons declaration showed Saddam Hussein was not serious about disarmament and marked “a disappointing day for those who long for peace”.

“We expected him to show that he would disarm and . . . it’s a long way from there,” the President said. “We’re serious about keeping the peace. We are serious about working with our friends in the UN.”

Last night Mr Bush postponed a visit to Africa planned for next month to monitor Iraq and begin work on his domestic agenda.

Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, said on Thursday that Iraq’s declaration had such flagrant omissions that they amounted to the material breach of the conditions laid down by the United Nations which could become a trigger for war.

The Times has learnt that Iraq recently turned over to the UN a document showing that it had used 6,000 fewer chemical bombs in its war with Iran than it had claimed. Iraq has not explained the discrepancy in its weapons declaration. The document would be the first solid proof that Iraq has lied in the declaration and will play a key role when the UN weapons inspectors offer a detailed assessment of the declaration to the Security Council on January 9.

A senior US military officer met US forces in Qatar as the Pentagon confirmed that 50,000 more men and extra hardware will be in place in the Gulf by early January.

Mr Bush has requested 2,000 German troops to be made available from the end of January to guard US bases in Germany while army and air force personnel are committed elsewhere.

British military preparations received a setback when a Royal Navy warship, expected to play a key role in any action, was hit by engine trouble.

HMS Ocean, the Navy’s helicopter carrier which can transport an 800-strong Commando unit of Royal Marines as well as helicopters and landing craft for an amphibious assault, suffered a “major defect” and had to return to dock.

The warship is bigger than the Navy’s three aircraft carriers and has been involved in numerous overseas operations since coming into service in 1998. She recently completed a £5 million maintenance programme at Devonport dockyard. The Ministry of Defence said the additional work will cost about £450,000.

HMS Ocean is still at Devonport and will have more sea trials next month. Royal Marines will be on board for the trials and will take part in rigorous training before being deployed to the Gulf.

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