AN MP found himself discussing the possibility of war on Iraq with royalty when he visited the Middle East.

Bill Wiggin, whose constituency covers Rock and Ribbesford, travelled to Bahrain as part of a Conservative delegation.

He met the Prime Minister and the Bahrain King to discuss the threat of war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq and to observe preparations for a forthcoming election.

Mr Wiggin said the Arab people had "mixed views" about Saddam, felt that although he poses a real danger war should be avoided, and believe the Palestinian crisis is more relevant to the global war on terrorism than Iraq.

The Prime Minister is in favour of proceeding legally through the UN rather than "acting unilaterally" to remove the dictator, said Mr Wiggin.

He added: "The King was more convinced we should stand up to him and said to me that it would be wrong to think that Saddam would be replaced by a worse regime and when the time is right he must be removed.

"It was clear from our meetings that the position that both Labour and Conservatives in Britain had taken was correct."

The King has introduced democratic elections, which will be the first in the Arab Middle East, and demonstrated the scheme to the delegation.