BRITAIN’S two most senior churchmen combine today in a direct challenge to Tony Blair’s attempt to make the moral case for war against Iraq.

The heads of the Anglican and Catholic churches have issued an unusual joint statement highlighting doubts over the “moral legitimacy” of conflict and of the “unpredictable humanitarian consequences.”

The intervention from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and the Archbishop of Westminster, Cormac Murphy-O’Connor,comes as the preparations for war intensify.

British nationals have now been warned to leave Iraq to avoid the risk of being taking hostage. There has also been a warning of terrorist attacks in Kuwait, and Britons were being urged to leave. Families of British embassy staff will be evacuated soon.

In a further signal that the British Government is preparing for a war against Iraq, the Foreign Office changed its travel advice for Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. Britons in the Palestinian territories were urged to leave “while exit routes remain open”. Those in Israel, which was attacked by 39 Iraqi Scud missiles in the 1991 Gulf War, were advised to stay only if essential.

Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, said that President Saddam Hussein can be expected to use civilians as human shields and warned any Iraqi who helps him that they face being punished as a war criminal. Mr Rumsfeld accused the Iraqi leader of deliberately building mosques near military sites and using “schools, hospitals, orphanages and cultural treasures to shield military forces”.

The Foreign Office said that there are 150 to 250 Britons in Iraq, some of whom are anti-war protesters and others who are working for charities and aid agencies. There are up to 4,500 Britons in Kuwait and 35,000 to 70,000 in Israel and the occupied terrorities.

The Archbishops are speaking out a week after Mr Blair began making the moral case during Commons Question Time last Wednesday. They met last Thursday, since when drafts of the statement have been exchanged between Dr Williams and Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor.

Last Saturday, as millions marched for peace, the Prime Minister put the moral argument at the centre of his Labour spring conference speech in Glasgow and he intends to go on making it.

The churchmen’s statement calls for a continuation of weapons inspections, which they say could render war unnecessary, and voices “deep disquiet” about the possible consequences of an attack.

They do not mention Mr Blair, but say that they are praying daily for those who must make “the ultimate decisions” in these matters. as well as for those who would find themselves caught up in war.

They add: “The events of recent days show that doubts still persist about the moral legitimacy, as well as the unpredictable humanitarian consequences of a war with Iraq.”

But then, in words welcomed by Downing Street, they say they recognise that the moral alternative to military action cannot be inaction, passivity, appeasement or indiffference. They plead: “It is vital, therefore, that all sides in this crisis engage through the United Nations fully and urgently in a process, including continued weapons inspections, that could and should render the trauma and tragedy of war unnecessary.”

They also call on Iraq to “demonstrate forthwith” its unequivocal compliance with UN resolutions.

Downing Street was relaxed about the statement, saying that Mr Blair constantly made clear his understanding of people’s concerns. Officials said that the Archbishops were aware of the impact that a jointly-agreed ecumenical statement would have.

They wanted to give voice to the serious moral and ethical issues that persist in people’s minds. “They need further convincing that war is justified,” a source said. “They wanted to show they were of one mind.” The statement has added significance because of Mr Blair’s meeting at the Vatican on Saturday with the Pope.

Sources said that Dr Williams and Cardinal Murphy- O’Connor believe strongly that more can be done before war begins, and want to urge caution. “Sometimes in a crisis situation we think we have less time than we actually have,” the source said.

Neither Dr Williams nor Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor believe they have a monopoly on morality, the source added. But just as they would accept that the Prime Minister has certain insights into politics which the Archbishops are not privy to, so they would hope for recognition that they have certain moral insights which are not available to politicians.

Foreign Office sources said yesterday that the timing of the new travel advice did not mean that the Government knew war was imminent. However, as the military preparations reached a climax, it was felt necessary to ensure that all Britons in the region knew of the potential dangers, both from rising tensions from possible terrorist attacks.

A Foreign Office official said: “We have not received specific intelligence of a terrorist threat against British nationals in the region, but it is obviously prudent to take steps now to give warnings to our nationals.”

Christian Aid yesterday pulled its two British staff out of northern Iraq. A spokesman said that the move was not connected to the latest advice but came after its own intelligence warned them that “the political situation was not looking so savoury”.

Save The Children said that they had one British member of staff, Geoff Hayes, overseeing its offices in northern Iraq. A spokeswoman said: “We will make our own assessment based on our knowledge of the area and make our own decision when the time is right. We would never put anyone’s life in danger but our work is also essential.” Mr Hayes has not yet asked to leave.

Anti-war protesters claim that more than 300 Britons have arrived in Iraq to act as a voluntary human shield. Last Sunday, a convoy carrying 125 members of the Human Shield Mission to Iraq group arrived in Baghdad after driving 3,000 miles from London.

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