The families of the Bloody Sunday relatives gave a cautious welcome to Lord Saville's statement. With their legal advisers they said the inquiry should also look at the political background to the killings.
Mr Peter Madden, of Madden and Finucane solicitors, said there was "a political input into what happened on Bloody Sunday. Interestingly enough, Lord Saville indicated in his statement that he was going to explore that area and not just limit himself to what happened on the day."
Lord Widgery limited himself to what happened on the day and some of the military orders, "so what would have to be explored is the question of what exactly was the political input and who were the politicians involved and I think they would probably be relevant". He said Lord Saville would decide "whether or not they would be called".
If he did not call witnesses the families thought relevant, then "the families would be able to make representations to him".
Mr John Kelly of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign, whose brother Michael was one of the victims, said the families believed that both the then British and Stormont governments had a hand in the events of Bloody Sunday.
"There was an input by those two governments before it actually had happened. We believe there are certain people who we honestly believe have a great amount of knowledge and who helped in the planning of Bloody Sunday. We believe that these people should be brought to book and to be made answerable for the things they perpetrated on people on Bloody Sunday.
"Due to investigations, we will certainly find out who these people are, people such as the Stormont government of the time, maybe the security council of the Stormont government, plus maybe Heath. Whoever planned it, that is who we want brought forward to answer questions," he said.