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MPs in new bid for Iraq war inquiry

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, March 24, IRNA – The opposition Conservative Party is launching a new bid in the British parliament on Wednesday to force Prime Minister Gordon Brown to call an immediate independent inquiry into the Iraq war.

Last spring, Brown’s government narrowly survived an attempt by Conservative leader David Cameron, defeating a vote by MPs 299 to 271 when 76 abstained or were not present in parliament at the time.

The previous vote included 12 Labour MPs rebelling against the government’s refusal by voting with the Conservatives, who originally supported the war and Liberal Democrats, who opposed Britain joining the US-led invasion in 2003 from the beginning.

Reports suggested that the new vote could be even closer with more rebel Labour MPs threatening to support the latest inquiry call.

Some were said to be also unhappy about the government's handling of the recession and the new corruption allegations against ministers.

The government has consistently rejected calls for an independent inquiry, which could provoke renewed controversy over the legality and justification for the invasion and the lack of planning as the country descended into chaos and virtual civil war.

Brown has accepted that an examination should be carried out so that future lessons can be learned but has insisted that it is inappropriate while British troops were still serving in Iraq although plans are to withdraw the bulk of the remaining 4,100-strong deployment by June.

Last year, the government received support when introducing an amendment that was passed by 299 votes to 259, saying an inquiry would be "appropriate" but after "important" operations in Iraq were completed.