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Blair arrives early at Iraq inquiry to avoid protests

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Jan 21, IRNA -- For the second time, former prime minister Tony Blair arrived over two hours early to avoid the ferocity of protests when being recalled to give evidence to the Iraq war inquiry on Friday.

“Yet again he has sneaked in under cover of darkness, mirroring the way in which he launched his illegal war in 2003,” said chair of Stop The War Coalition, Andrew Murray.

“Hopefully later today he will be asked to tell the truth about the legal advice he was given by (Attorney General) Lord Goldsmith and also be challenged publicly about the contents of his letters to George Bush which he is still keeping secret,” Murray said.

Documents released by the inquiry this week show that Lord Goldsmith was kept out of the loop by some of Blair's closest advisers and that he felt 'uncomfortable' about statements made by Blair about the legality of the war.

The inquiry also disclosed that the British government refused to allow the publication of “important” notes sent to former US president which “illuminate prime minister Blair’s positions at critical points” at the lead-up to the 2003 war.

In new documents, released on Friday, Blair denied offering Bush a 'blank cheque' to invade Iraq in the notes he sent and also defended keeping them secret, saying “the ability to communicate privately and frankly was very important.”

The former premier also argued that he was entitled to ignore the warning by the former attorney general, the government’s chief legal adviser, about war being illegal without a second UN resolution, saying that he would change his mind when realising the full history.

Outside the inquiry hearing in central London, anti-war campaigners re-enacted scenes from the build-up to war, including the secret deals between Bush and Blair and the “taming” of the attorney general.

Protesters were joined by families of the 179 British soldiers killed in Iraq, Peter Brierley and Rose Gentle, calling for Blair to be put on trial for war crimes.