EAST Lancashire MP Gordon Prentice has joined a Commons call for the Government to prevent any new military action against Iraq.

He is one of more than 100 MPs concerned at British support for American threats to launch military action against Saddan Hussain's regime.

Of the 107 MPs signing a Parliamentary motion, 95 are, like Mr Prentice, Labour back benchers.

The Early Day Motion on the House of Commons Order Paper -- Westminster's daily agenda circulated to all ministers, MPs and senior civil servants -- expressed 'deep unease' among MPs of all parties at the prospect that the British government might support new US military action against Iraq.

It agrees with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan that a further military attack on the Baghdad regime would be unwise and would destroy support for the anti-terrorism coalition among Arab states.

Instead, it urges the Prime Minister Tony Blair to use Britain's influence with America and Iraq to prevent such an attack and persuade Saddam Hussain to allow the resumption of UN weapons inspections in Iraq.

Pendle MP Mr Prentice said: "Let me make it clear I do not support Saddam Hussain. I think he is a murderous dictator. But I don't think the West should launch an attack unless we have definite evidence that he is supporting terrorism or ready to launch a scud missile tipped with botulism or another weapon of mass destruction against Israel. I regard Saddam like I do a dose of anthrax.

"But we need evidence if we are to do anything and I think US President George W Bush is pursuing this because it is unfinished family business.

"His father George Bush failed to finish off Iraq in the Gulf War and now he wants to do so.

"I think Britain needs to restrain the Americans rather than support them.

"The Middle East is already a caldron and at attack on Saddam without positive evidence will only make this worse.

"It will destroy the coalition against terrorism.

"We need to work very closely with our Arab and international partners on this issue."