LEIGH MP Andy Burnham defended the Government's stance on the war on Iraq at a packed public meeting held last week.

The meeting, organised by the Stop The War Coalition movement and Ron Shenchak, saw many anti-war protesters voice their strong opposition to the campaign at Leigh Liberal Club last Friday.

But Mr Burnham, who voted with the Government for military action, was quick to support Prime Minister Tony Blair at the meeting.

And he said he was pleased to see so many local people at the meeting discussing such an important issue.

He said: "I agreed with what the Journal said in last week's paper-- we should back our troops. People must pull together and give them our support at times like this.

"It was very important to stand up and be counted and tell people why I voted with the Government. It wasn't an easy decision to make but I'm confident that time will show that we were right.

"It was a full discussion of all the immediate causes, the wider importance for the world and peace in the Middle East. There were some interesting points raised, particularly by an Iraqi man in the audience."

Nick Redmond, from Naylor Street, Atherton, who was at the meeting said: "Credit should be given to the Leigh Member of Parliament. Very few MPs would've been as brave as him to face the backlash from a room full of anti-war protesters.

"The anti-war protester Ron Shenchak believed that America's decision to invade Iraq was firmly rooted in obtaining the material wealth that Iraq has to offer. He expressed disgust with the Bush administration

and the so-called vested self-interest of certain members of the Bush administration.

"His criticism of the US government was brutal and it was given more credence by the fact that he was an American criticising his own government."

There was nearly 80 people in the audience who voiced their opinions, from students to ex-soldiers who served in the Second World War.