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Iraq war inquiry to be in private Iraq war inquiry to be in private
(about 1 hour later)
An independent inquiry into the Iraq war will be held in private, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told MPs.An independent inquiry into the Iraq war will be held in private, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told MPs.
Opposition parties - and many Labour MPs - have been calling for the probe since shortly after the 2003 invasion.Opposition parties - and many Labour MPs - have been calling for the probe since shortly after the 2003 invasion.
It will start next month and take at least a year, Mr Brown said. It will not aim to "apportion blame", he added.It will start next month and take at least a year, Mr Brown said. It will not aim to "apportion blame", he added.
The Tories said it "should have started earlier" and have public hearings. The Lib Dems accused the PM of trying to "cover up the path" that led to war.The Tories said it "should have started earlier" and have public hearings. The Lib Dems accused the PM of trying to "cover up the path" that led to war.
The inquiry will cover July 2001 to July 2009 and be chaired by Sir John Chilcot, Mr Brown told MPs. The inquiry will cover the period from July 2001 to July 2009 and be chaired by civil servant Sir John Chilcot, Mr Brown told MPs.
'Close the book' Security considerations
The government had been urged to hold the inquiry in public, but Mr Brown said he must take into account national security, and avoid damaging Britain's military capability.The government had been urged to hold the inquiry in public, but Mr Brown said he must take into account national security, and avoid damaging Britain's military capability.
David Cameron: "Won't everyone conclude that this inquiry has been fixed?" More than a million people demonstrated against the war in 2003
It was designed on a similar basis, he added, to the Franks inquiry into the 1982 Falklands War, and it would aim to identify "lessons learned".It was designed on a similar basis, he added, to the Franks inquiry into the 1982 Falklands War, and it would aim to identify "lessons learned".
He added that it would hear evidence in private so witnesses can be "as candid as possible". He added it would hear evidence in private so witnesses could be "as candid as possible".
The prime minister said: "No British documents and no British witness will be beyond the scope of the inquiry."The prime minister said: "No British documents and no British witness will be beyond the scope of the inquiry."
Mr Brown said the final report would reveal "all but the most secret of information" and the "unprecedented" process would be "fully independent of government". He said the final report would reveal "all but the most secret of information" and the "unprecedented" process would be "fully independent of government".
But the prime minister was jeered by Conservative MPs when he announced that the inquiry would take a year to report - beyond the date of the next general election. But the prime minister was jeered by Conservative MPs when he announced the inquiry would take a year to report - beyond the date of the next general election.
Tory leader David Cameron said that, because of this, there was a danger the public would believe the process had been "fixed to make sure the Government avoids having to face up to any inconvenient conclusions". Tory leader David Cameron said there was a danger the public would believe the process had been "fixed to make sure the government avoids having to face up to any inconvenient conclusions".
Mr Cameron said that the membership of the inquiry "looks quite limited" and complained that its terms of reference were "restrictive", adding that it should have taken place sooner. Mr Cameron said membership of the inquiry "looks quite limited" and complained its terms of reference were "restrictive", adding it should have taken place sooner.
And Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg - who has always called for the inquiry to be held in public - said that "the government must not be able to close the book on this war as it opened it - in secret". 'Public trust'
'Diversion' Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg - who has always called for the inquiry to be held in public - said "the government must not be able to close the book on this war as it opened it - in secret".
Mr Clegg added: "To rebuild public trust, this inquiry must be held in public."Mr Clegg added: "To rebuild public trust, this inquiry must be held in public."
Sir John Chilcot, 70, is a former permanent under-secretary of state at the Northern Ireland Office who became chairman of the Police Federation in 2001 and sat on the Butler Inquiry into the intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Sir John Chilcot, 70, is a former permanent under-secretary of state at the Northern Ireland Office who sat on the Butler Inquiry into the intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
Also on the panel are former diplomat Sir Roderick Lyne, crossbench peer Baroness Prashar and historians Sir Lawrence Freeman and Sir Martin Gilbert.Also on the panel are former diplomat Sir Roderick Lyne, crossbench peer Baroness Prashar and historians Sir Lawrence Freeman and Sir Martin Gilbert.
Nick Clegg said a public inquiry into Iraq was needed David Cameron: "Won't everyone conclude that this inquiry has been fixed?"
For the Scottish National Party, Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie told the Commons that the decision to hold the inquiry in private was "the wrong thing to do". For the Scottish National Party, Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie told the Commons the decision to hold the inquiry in private was "the wrong thing to do".
Plaid Cymru's Adam Price said Mr Brown had "misjudged the public mood".Plaid Cymru's Adam Price said Mr Brown had "misjudged the public mood".
Mr Price added: "The government that tried to keep MPs expenses under wraps is now doing the same over Iraq."Mr Price added: "The government that tried to keep MPs expenses under wraps is now doing the same over Iraq."
The Stop the War Coalition's Lindsey German predicted that the inquiry would produce "another bucket of whitewash". The Stop the War Coalition's Lindsey German predicted the inquiry would produce "another bucket of whitewash".
Rose Gentle - whose son Gordon was killed in action in Basra - said she would continue to lobby for a public inquiry.Rose Gentle - whose son Gordon was killed in action in Basra - said she would continue to lobby for a public inquiry.
She added: "We have fought and fought for this but it will be no use and it could all be for nothing behind closed doors."She added: "We have fought and fought for this but it will be no use and it could all be for nothing behind closed doors."
Long-standing controversy 'Academic exercise'
Former prime minister Tony Blair would be willing to give evidence to the Iraq inquiry if he were asked to be a witness, the BBC understands.Former prime minister Tony Blair would be willing to give evidence to the Iraq inquiry if he were asked to be a witness, the BBC understands.
A source close to Mr Blair said that "if asked", Mr Blair would "of course" appear before the probe, BBC political correspondent James Landale said. A source close to Mr Blair said "if asked", the former prime minister would "of course" appear before the probe, BBC political correspondent James Landale said.
The government that tried to keep MPs expenses under wraps is now doing the same over Iraq Adam PricePlaid Cymru In full: Brown's Iraq probe statement UK fatalities in Iraq The government that tried to keep MPs expenses under wraps is now doing the same over Iraq Adam PricePlaid Cymru In full: Brown's statement UK fatalities in Iraq
Defence secretary Bob Ainsworth said he believed all those involved in the UK's decision to go to war would be willing to give evidence voluntarily.
But ex-minister Clare Short, who resigned from the Cabinet over the post-war governance of Iraq, said the inquiry would be an "academic exercise" in which people could decline to answer questions they weren't happy with.
"It won't get to the bottom of things and people won't get the answers they want," she told Channel 4 News.
The reasons for going to war in Iraq - including the now discredited claim that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction which could be used within 45 minutes of an order being given - have been a source of long-standing controversy.The reasons for going to war in Iraq - including the now discredited claim that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction which could be used within 45 minutes of an order being given - have been a source of long-standing controversy.
Two inquiries - the Hutton and Butler inquiries - have already been held into aspects of the Iraq war.Two inquiries - the Hutton and Butler inquiries - have already been held into aspects of the Iraq war.
Nick Clegg said a public inquiry into Iraq was needed
The Butler inquiry looked at intelligence failures before the war while the Hutton inquiry examined the circumstances leading to the death of former government adviser David Kelly.The Butler inquiry looked at intelligence failures before the war while the Hutton inquiry examined the circumstances leading to the death of former government adviser David Kelly.
In 2008 the government defeated Conservative attempts to force a public inquiry, saying it would be a "diversion" for UK troops serving in Iraq.In 2008 the government defeated Conservative attempts to force a public inquiry, saying it would be a "diversion" for UK troops serving in Iraq.
And in February Justice Secretary Jack Straw vetoed the publication of minutes of cabinet meetings discussing the legality of the war in the run-up to the invasion. In February Justice Secretary Jack Straw vetoed the publication of minutes of cabinet meetings discussing the legality of the war in the run-up to the invasion.
In March David Miliband, the foreign secretary, said the government was committed to holding a "comprehensive" inquiry into the conduct of the war and its aftermath.In March David Miliband, the foreign secretary, said the government was committed to holding a "comprehensive" inquiry into the conduct of the war and its aftermath.