The war of words continued yesterday over the First Minister�s comments on the conflict in Iraq and his argument that Scots soldiers knew they had been betrayed by being sent there five years ago.

The war of words continued yesterday over the First Minister's comments on the conflict in Iraq and his argument that Scots soldiers knew they had been betrayed by being sent there five years ago.

After the attacks on Alex Salmond by Defence and Scottish Secretary Des Browne, it was the turn yesterday of Labour's Holyrood leader Wendy Alexander to weigh in, demanding that the First Minister stick to the "real issues" he is in charge of.

"Instead of posturing and preening on issues that are not in his remit, he should take a long hard look at his own government's policy agenda and the serious issues closer to home he should be addressing," she said, citing a string of policy failures and difficulties.

"Ten months into an SNP government it is clear that when it comes to real policy delivery, the First Minister's government isn't fit for purpose. He should stop grandstanding and start governing."

Mr Salmond had turned the criticism back on Mr Browne, saying he should have been apologising for the "disgraceful decision" to launch an illegal war. The First Minister said he had received complaints from families of those serving in Iraq about equipment and provisions.

On his central argument that Scots soldiers were against the role they were being asked to play, he said: "It is nonsense to imagine that these brave men and women who come from all the communities of Scotland differ in their views from their friends, families and the population at large about the fact that Tony Blair took the country into an unlawful war on bogus information.

"We are five years on from the most disastrous foreign policy decision of recent times, the effects of which will be with us for many years to come - facts that our service personnel in particular are only too well aware of."

A spokesman for the First Minister rebuffed Ms Alexander's comments, citing recent polling evidence which showed the SNP is 10 points ahead of Labour and Mr Salmond is 75 points ahead of Ms Alexander. "Two-thirds of Labour voters say we are doing a good job," he said.

The freeze in council tax, abolition of prescription charges, reprieve for hospital accident and emergency units, scrapping bridge tolls, cut in business rates and historic agreement with local government to cut class sizes were among the government's record of achievement, he added.

"Our positive, can-do attitude is supported by the people of Scotland, and is in stark contrast to Labour's carping, the very thing that caused them to lose last year's election in the first place.

"The rest of Scotland is moving forward with the successful SNP government. Only Labour's Scottish leadership are stuck in their own world of doom and gloom."

Keith Brown, the SNP MSP for Ochil and a former Marine and Falkland War veteran, said Ms Alexander should be "ashamed" of her remarks. "Countless lives have been lost and billions of pounds wasted because of the ill-considered and disastrous decision to go to war in Iraq," he said.

However, Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser said: "Alex Salmond should stop acting as if he is the unelected dictator of an independent republic and instead realise he is the First Minister in a devolved parliament and the leader of a minority party.

"His every utterance is undermining the morale of not just our forces abroad but the families back here at home."