Blair's party loses support in first local elections since war

LONDON -- In key tests of public sentiment after the Iraq war, Prime Minister Tony Blair lost support across Britain in local elections while Dutch voters dealt a blow to their governing parties at the start of elections for European Parliament.

Blair and his ministers acknowledged that the deeply divisive war cast a shadow over campaigning in Britain for local council elections as well as for EU lawmakers.

"There is clearly a strong protest vote, and we have to take account of what people are telling us," Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said.

The 25 nations of the recently expanded European Union began electing legislators in a four-day process that started Thursday in Britain and the Netherlands.

Dutch opposition parties critical of the war scored significant gains.

While Britain's results in the EU vote will not be clear until Sunday, the local vote showed a stinging backlash to Blair, whose popularity has slumped amid lingering doubts about his judgment and truthfulness.