Amid dramatic scenes in the Commons on Tuesday night, 217
                 MPs - 139 of them Labour backbenchers - backed a rebel
                 amendment opposing the government's stance on Iraq,
                 with 396 opposing the motion. 

                 A motion backing the government's position was passed by 412
                 votes to 149. 

                 There was relief for the government after fears that
                 many more of Labour's backbenchers would oppose
                 Tony Blair's line on Iraq. 

                 But the revolt among Labour MPs was still up on the last vote with
                 139 backbenchers opposing Mr Blair compared to 122 at the last
                 vote. 

                 Fifteen Tories defied their leadership by voting against the government. 

                 Support for the government motion fell by 22 votes to 412 from
                 434 when Iraq was last debated. 

                 Rebel Graham Allen said the revolt was the largest ever against a
                 Labour government. 

                 "It's not something we wanted to have to do but it's a very
                 strong message to the prime minister and I hope we can now all
                 reflect carefully tomorrow on how we arrived at this situation
                 again," he said. 

                 But the government immediately rolled out big-hitting ministers to
                 hail victory. 

                 'Unite' 
                 Within minutes of the vote being announced, Labour chairman
                 John Reid told BBC News Online: "It is now clear that parliament
                 has voted clearly to support the government in its efforts to
                 disarm Saddam Hussein. 

                 "Now that the democratic decision has been taken it is time for the
                 country and parliament to unite." 

                 And Mr Blair's official spokesman echoed the message, saying: "It is now time for all of us in Parliament and in the country to come together and show the support our Armed Forces deserve." 

                 The amendment drawn up by rebel MPs said
                 there was no moral justification for war without a
                 new UN resolution. 

                 The vote followed more than nine hours of
                 impassioned debate in the Commons during which
                 the prime minister said Saddam Hussein would be
                 strengthened "beyond measure" if the world fails
                 to make Iraq disarm. 

                 In one of the most important speeches of his
                 career, the prime minister urged MPs "to give a
                 lead, to show we will stand up for what we know
                 to be right". 

                 Mr Blair said the only people who would suffer if
                 Saddam is not tackled would be the Iraqi people. 

                 "Who will celebrate and who will weep if we pull our troops back
                 now?" he said. 

                 As Foreign Secretary Jack Straw wound up the
                 debate there were protests from the public
                 gallery in the Commons. 

                 Outside, 200 - 400 protesters brought traffic
                 to a standstill in Parliament Square. 

                 One, 27-year-old Dan Kent, said: "I'm here because I don't believe in this war. It is
                 essentially fuelling hatred." 

                 US President George W Bush has given Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave Iraq from 0100GMT on Tuesday. 

                 The Iraqi leader has flatly rejected the ultimatum, while the White
                 House has said US forces would enter Iraq to search for weapons of
                 mass destruction even if Saddam does leave. 

                 All UN inspectors have now left Iraq after President Bush's warning
                 to Saddam. 

                 The Commons debate took place as the prime minister suffered two more ministerial
                 resignations from his government, but also saw another minister - Clare Short - saying she had decided to stay in her cabinet post as international development secretary. 

                 She had earlier threatened to quit the government if the UK joined the US in action
                 against Iraq without a second UN resolution.