The British government tonight saw off an attempt by opposition parties to force an inquiry into the Iraq war.
At the end of a highly charged Commons debate, a motion tabled by the Scottish and Welsh nationalists calling for a wide-ranging review of the Government's conduct was defeated by 298 votes to 273 votes - a majority of 25.
There were angry scenes in the Commons chamber as the Tories - who supported the war - joined the other opposition parties in voting for an inquiry.
However with fewer than 20 Labour rebels thought to have voted against the government, ministers were able to avoid defeat.
Many Labour MPs critical of the war were nevertheless unwilling to join the Conservatives in what they regarded as an opportunistic attempt to embarrass the government.
The government's current working majority is 62 and up to 20 Labour rebels are believed to have voted with the opposition.
The call by seven privy council members for an inquiry into the lead-up to war and its aftermath was rejected after Tony Blair warned it would send a signal of "weakness" to the insurgents.
Scottish and Welsh nationalists spearheaded the demand, with backing from the Tories and Liberal Democrats, in the three-hour debate - the first on Iraq for more than two years.
The vote came after Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said that the government may be prepared to hold an inquiry some time in the indefinite future but ruled one out for now.
"It is perfectly sensible and legitimate to say that there will come a time when these issues will be explored in the round and in full so that we can learn whatever lessons we can from them," she said.
But she said that Tory demands for a Falklands-type style inquiry in the next session of Parliament were "not sensible".
"It avoids none of the dangers of sending the wrong signals at the wrong time and distracting resources and attention from where they are most needed."
"And indeed it risks appearing to set a deadline for our operations in Iraq which would be politically and militarily damaging," added Ms Beckett.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague urged his side to vote for an inquiry "given the failure of the government to be able to give an assurance, not only about an inquiry in the next session of Parliament but any inquiry at all."
He said there was a strong case for a major inquiry into an operation that was "so vast, so expensive, so chequered with success and failures."
Michael Moore of the Liberal Democrats had demanded an inquiry, saying: "There needs to be accountability for the mistakes that were made and there needs to be lessons learned."
Dozens of protestors gathered outside the House of Commons tonight as MPs continued their debate. Around 200 people carried placards calling for British troops to leave the country and shouted slogans criticising Mr Blair.
PA