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Blair to be questioned on Iraq war within the next month

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Jan 5, IRNA -- Former prime minister Tony Blair is to be questioned at the end of this month or in the first week of February over his role in the Iraq war, inquiry chair Sir John Chilcot announced Tuesday.

Chilcot said that Blair would give evidence to the Iraq inquiry for a full-day during the fortnight commencing January 25 and confirmed that a public ballot would be held for seats in the hearing room due to the potential demand.

“There has been considerable interest from members of the public wanting to know how to get a seat for this particular hearing,” he said in a statement.

“Given the potential demand, we recognise the importance of providing people with certainty about whether or not they will be able to get into the hearings, particularly those who need to travel long distances,” the statement said.

The timetable of witnesses is normally published by the inquiry one week in advance and the exact date of Blair’s appearance will be announced in the normal way.

The former premier is being questioned in two three-hour sessions and Chilcot said that ballots would be run for each to maximise access.

The inquiry also revealed that around a third of the 60 seats were being set aside for families of Armed Forces personnel and British civilians who died or are missing in Iraq.

Many bereaved relatives have accused Blair of having “blood on his hands” and being a “war criminal” and have called on the inquiry to bring him to account.

The inquiry is also due to hear evidence from two former foreign secretaries during the war, Jack Straw and Margaret Beckett, and four former defence secretaries, Geoff Hoon, John Reid, Des Browne and John Hutton before it adjourns next month ahead of the general elections.

Current ministers in their posts, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, are not being questioned until after the elections to prevent it being used as a platform for political advantage.

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End News / IRNA / News Code 880354