Brighton Kemp Town MP Des Turner has insisted he is not an anti-war rebel and that he "abhorred Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein".
The Labour MP joined a Commons revolt earlier this week over Tony Blair's refusal to rule out war in Iraq without the full authorisation of the United Nations.
But he said this did not mean the 53 Labour MPs who protested against the Government should be labelled as against military action regardless of the circumstances.
In a letter to the Guardian newspaper, he wrote: "Like most people, I abhor Saddam and his regime.
"The reason that I and many others took the stand we did is because we believe very strongly the UN is the only body that should decide what action should be taken over Iraq's non-compliance and also that Parliament must have a vote to decide whether any British forces are committed to any military action."
The rebellion, which also included 11 Liberal Democrat, SNP and Plaid Cymru MPs, was dismissed as "pointless posturing" by the Government.
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