Britain and America are rushing headlong into war without any justification, an Iraqi crisis meeting in Eastbourne heard.

The meeting was told that Iraq posed no credible threat and does not hold nuclear warheads.

More than 200 people attended the meeting on Saturday as troops prepared for war.

The gathering, at Christ Church, Seaside, heard that Tony Blair's standing as a leader would be judged by his actions on Iraq.

After hearing from former UN official Harold Dunning, Christian peace worker Clare Szanto set out arguments against a conflict.

She said Iraq posed no threat to Britain and that a war in which thousands of innocent children could die should be deplored.

She said: "We know we will cause immense destruction and thousands of lives will be lost, with estimates conservatively put at 10,000.

"But the long-term effects on people, both physically and psychologically, is not immediately apparent."

Eastbourne Tory MP Nigel Waterson disputed claims that Saddam Hussein posed no threat and said he believed he would not hesitate to unleash mass destruction even on his own people.

He said: "Does Saddam have weapons of mass destruction? Yes, of course he does. Would he have any compunction in using them? The reply is, of course, he wouldn't.

"I cannot think of a greater evil than the Iraqi regime. But, saying that, there is absolutely no reason for a war in the Gulf.

"All the troops could be home within days. We need not ever have to go to war provided Saddam complies and gives up all hazardous weapons."