Blair `to escape blame over Kelly`s death`
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Jan. 26, IRNA -- Britain`s top selling Sun newspaper Monday become the second daily to report that Prime Minister Tony Blair was likely to escape blame for the death of former Iraq arms inspector David Kelly. Like the Sunday Telegraph, it said that head of the inquiry into Kelly`s death, Lord Hutton had sent warning letters to only five people who he intends to criticise when his report is published on Wednesday. These included Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, whose department employed the arms inspector as an advisor, and Blair`s former Communications Director Alastair Campbell, who stepped down from his post in the middle of the judicial inquiry. The other three were all from the BBC, the Director General Greg Dyke, head of news Richard Sambrook, and journalist Andrew Gilligan, whose report last May sparked the unprecedented row with the government over claims that it exaggerated Iraq`s arms threat. Suggestions that Blair will escape personal criticism from contributing to the death of Kelly after he was exposed as Gilligan`s source are in line with most analysts, who believe that the prime minister will survive the controversy. Despite the reports, the odds on Blair staying in office this month were drastically cut Monday by bookmakers William Hill from 20 to 1 to 12 to 1 and from 6 to 1 to 5 to 1 on remaining in power for the remainder of the year. "Punters are betting that Mr Blair`s reign will come to an end certainly by the end of 2004 and possibly before February arrives," Graham Sharpe, a spokesman for William Hill, said, also referring to the crucial vote on Tuesday on university fees. Another bookmaker, Paddy Power, put the chances of the prime minister not losing his job by the beginning of Frebruary at 6 to 1. The biggest favourite to go over the Kelly report was Gavyn Davies, the BBC chairman at 3 to 1. HC/212 End
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