THE tragic death of Dr Kelly and the bitter dispute between Downing Street and the BBC should not obscure the fact that no weapons of mass destruction have been found, nor has Saddam Hussein.

Until he is found, dead or alive, coalition forces will be unable to withdraw from Iraq even though a coalition soldier is killed just about every day.

The Iraq affair has raised only questions about the objectives and motives of the participants and the judicial inquiry into Dr Kelly's death will not answer why we invaded Iraq or how we can successfully leave the country.

Richard Lamb,

Greystoke Road,

York.

Updated: 10:58 Wednesday, July 23, 2003