Former British prime minister Tony Blair will be called to testify before a panel investigating Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war.
The head of the inquiry confirmed yesterday that Mr Blair would appear, promising a thorough and independent inquiry.
Former civil servant John Chilcot said the investigation, ordered by prime minister Gordon Brown, would look at the run-up to the 2003 US-led invasion, the war and its aftermath.
The five-member panel, which also includes eminent historian Martin Gilbert, will examine the decisions taken by the British government and look at the legality of the war.
Mr Chilcot said the witnesses would include “other senior figures involved in decision-taking” also, although he would not say if Mr Brown would be called to testify. Asked how the inquiry would avoid suspicions it was a “whitewash”, Mr Chilcot said the panel would do the job “as thoroughly, as fairly, as independently as we can”.
He said the inquiry could single out officials for blame. “If we find that people fell short in their duty, made mistakes [or] acted wrongly, we shall most certainly say so and say so clearly.”
A spokesman for Mr Blair said he would co-operate with whatever format Mr Chilcot set for the inquiry. Mr Chilcot said the inquiry would last until late next year, at the earliest. That means that its conclusions, which could be politically damaging to the Labour government, will not be published before a general election due by next June. Mr Chilcot said the panel could not compel people to appear and witnesses would not testify under oath.
Mr Blair’s decision to send 45,000 British troops to take part in the invasion has always been controversial because of the lack of a UN resolution authorising military intervention. It provoked massive anti-war protests in London and led to ministerial resignations.
A British government dossier justifying the war contained the claim that Saddam Hussein was capable of launching weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes. No such weapons were found.
The Labour government resisted opposition pressure to hold an inquiry into the war while British troops were in Iraq, but most have now left.
Mr Brown said initially that the hearings would be held in private, citing national security concerns. After a public outcry however – and after Mr Chilcot threw his support behind largely open hearings – part of the proceedings will now be held in public. – (Reuters)