Tony Blair today said he was opposed to the death penalty for Saddam Hussein but backed Iraq’s right to decide the deposed dictator's fate, saying that his trial served as a reminder to the world of his "barbaric brutality".

In a heated exchange with reporters at his monthly press conference, an increasingly irritated Prime Minister refused to be drawn on whether he personally supported yesterday’s Iraqi court verdict that the former leader should be executed, insisting that the issue had already been answered by Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary.

Asked repeatedly about his own position, he retorted, clearly annoyed: "That is just enough, thank you very much. I happen to want to express myself in my own way if you don’t mind."

But he eventually conceded: "We are against the death penalty, whether it’s Saddam or anybody else."

Last night, Ms Beckett issued a statement saying that she welcomed the fact that Saddam and the other defendants had been held to account for their crimes, and that it was "right that those accused of such crimes against the Iraqi people should face Iraqi justice."

She later added: "It is absolutely the case that we do not approve of the death penalty, never have and always try to persuade others not to use it. However, this is the verdict of the Iraqi court, it is a matter for the government of Iraq."

Mr Blair reiterated this position, saying the decision on how the former dictator should be punished for his crimes was one for Iraq’s courts.

"I think what is important about this is to recognise that this trial of Saddam, which has been handled by the Iraqis themselves and they will take the decision about this, does give us a very clear reminder of the total and barbaric brutality of that regime," he said.

"That does not alter our position on the death penalty at all, but it simply does give us a reminder of that."

There were "other and bigger issues to talk about" in Iraq than the possible execution, he said, adding that the trial helped "point the way to the only future... a non-sectarian Iraq in which people from different communities live together and decide their future through democracy."

"I don’t underestimate for a single instant the difficulties involved in achieving that, but it’s a battle worth fighting," Mr Blair said.

The death sentence was handed down in dramatic courtroom scenes yesterday, with Saddam defiantly interrupting the judge by shouting "God is great" and "You are servants of the occupiers" as he was told that he would be hanged.

The question of Iraq arose frequently at the briefing, in which the Prime Minister outlined his plans for a national register and ID cards in the UK, insisting that the proposals would bring lasting benefits in both the fight against organised crime and terrorism, as well as protecting vulnerable people and making it easier to access services.

He confirmed that all non-EU nationals will need to carry ID cards in order to seek employment or access public services from 2008.

The Prime Minister also refused to be drawn on the cash-for-honours scandal, saying that he had "nothing to say" on the row over the possible involvement of the Attorney General in any decision to prosecute over claims of wrong-doing.

Lord Goldsmith - who attends Cabinet and is seen as a close ally of Mr Blair - has repeatedly refused to rule out playing a part in decisions affecting his own Government colleagues.

Explore Law

• Columnists

• Law Panel

• Law Reports

• Student Law

Times Recommends

• Linklaters trounces rivals as UK's biggest firm
• Clifford Chance profits plunge 37 per cent
• Casual drinkers hit by spread of 'dry' zones