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| Brown to outline Iraq war inquiry | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown is set to announce details of an inquiry into the Iraq war in the Commons at 1530 BST. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown is set to announce details of an inquiry into the Iraq war in the Commons at 1530 BST. |
| Opposition parties - and many Labour MPs - have been calling for an inquiry since shortly after the 2003 invasion. | Opposition parties - and many Labour MPs - have been calling for an inquiry since shortly after the 2003 invasion. |
| They will now be watching closely to see whether the long-awaited inquiry is to be held in public or private. | They will now be watching closely to see whether the long-awaited inquiry is to be held in public or private. |
| In March, ministers said they would hold an inquiry into the war "as soon as practically possible" after the bulk of UK service personnel left Iraq. | In March, ministers said they would hold an inquiry into the war "as soon as practically possible" after the bulk of UK service personnel left Iraq. |
| Wide remit | |
| Mr Brown's spokesman said: "The Prime Minister's statement will be on the end of the UK's military mission in Iraq and an inquiry into the conflict." | Mr Brown's spokesman said: "The Prime Minister's statement will be on the end of the UK's military mission in Iraq and an inquiry into the conflict." |
| A ceremony was held on 30 April in Basra to mark the official end of the six-year British military mission in Iraq. | A ceremony was held on 30 April in Basra to mark the official end of the six-year British military mission 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. | 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. | 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 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. |
| Previously, Conservative leader David Cameron has called for a "robust, independent" inquiry into the war similar to that conducted after the Falklands conflict, with a wide remit and the power to question ministers. | Previously, Conservative leader David Cameron has called for a "robust, independent" inquiry into the war similar to that conducted after the Falklands conflict, with a wide remit and the power to question ministers. |
| Hutton and Butler inquiries | |
| The Lib Dems have argued that the inquiry must be conducted in public to ensure it is not a "whitewash". | The Lib Dems have argued that the inquiry must be conducted in public to ensure it is not a "whitewash". |
| Rose Gentle, whose son Gordon was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq, told the BBC that she believed the inquiry had to be held in public. | |
| She said: "It can't be held behind closed doors. | |
| "It was our sons that were sent there, our sons that have been killed." | |
| 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. | |
| 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. |