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Iraq war inquiry to be launched Iraq war inquiry to be launched
(about 2 hours later)
Opposition parties are set to press for the Iraq war inquiry to be held largely in public when the long-awaited probe is officially launched later. The inquiry into the Iraq war is to be launched, amid pressure for as much as possible of it to be held in public.
Sir John Chilcot, who is chairing the inquiry, will outline its terms of reference and how it will be conducted. Chairman Sir John Chilcot will outline some details of the inquiry, although its exact terms of remit and timescale are not expected to be spelled out.
Gordon Brown initially said it would be held in private for security reasons but then told Sir John he could decide to hold parts in public if he wished. There have already been four inquiries into aspects of the war but critics say there are still questions to answer.
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said hearings would be in public unless there were national security concerns.
It is expected to take about a year and report back after the next general election. It will not be a judicial inquiry - witnesses will not give evidence under oath and will not have legal representation.
It is important that national security should not be regarded as a synonym for government embarrassment Sir Menzies CampbellFormer Lib Dem leader
Mr Brown had said it would not seek to "apportion blame" but later Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it would be free to "praise or blame whoever it likes".
When the prime minister announced the inquiry into the 2003 invasion in June, he said it would be held in private.
But, amid criticism from other parties, campaigners, and some military figures he later said it was up to Sir John to decide to hold parts in public if he wished.
Sir Menzies Campbell was foreign affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrats - the only one of the main three parties to have opposed the invasion - at the time of the invasion.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It is important that national security should not be regarded as a synonym for government embarrassment."
Cabinet decisions
He had argued that witnesses should give evidence under oath and said it was important for public confidence that the inquiry was not "denied important information".
Despite the earlier inquiries, questions remained about cabinet meetings in the run up to the decision to go to war, he said.
He added: "We have never had a proper inquiry into how it was that government came to reach this decision.
I hope and believe that we can trust Sir John Chilcot to hold as much of the inquiry in the public domain as is consistent with national security Bob AinsworthDefence Secretary
"For example how was it that the cabinet was apparently taken along the path towards military action without any kind of resistance except for example from Robin Cook and Clare Short?"
But Lord Anderson, who chaired the Commons' foreign affairs committee inquiry into the war when he was a Labour MP, said it would be difficult to see "what new evidence can emerge".
He said any "added value" might come from looking at what happened to reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the war.
Broad timescale
Between 2003 and 2009, 179 British service personnel were killed in Iraq.Between 2003 and 2009, 179 British service personnel were killed in Iraq.
Families views In a letter to the prime minister last month, Sir John said it was "essential" as much as of the inquiry as possible was in public.
Opposition parties say any decision to hold sessions in private must be justified and be free of political interference. Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth told the BBC: "I hope and believe that we can trust Sir John Chilcot to hold as much of the inquiry in the public domain as is consistent with national security.
The plan to hold it in private was criticised by anti-war campaigners, senior military figures and Labour backbenchers.
In a letter to the prime minister last month, Sir John said it was "essential" that as much as of the proceedings were held in public, consistent with national security requirements.
He has emphasised the need to give the relatives of those who died in Iraq "an early opportunity" to give their views about the nature the inquiry, either in public or private.
INQUIRY MEMBERS Sir John Chilcot (chair)Sir Roderick LyneSir Martin GilbertSir Lawrence FreedmanBaroness PrasharINQUIRY MEMBERS Sir John Chilcot (chair)Sir Roderick LyneSir Martin GilbertSir Lawrence FreedmanBaroness Prashar
Critics say the inquiry will lack credibility if held in secret, but ministers argue witnesses must be able to speak freely if lessons are to be properly learnt. "There will be issues that he feels he has to go in private, I hope that people understand that but where he can, he will take evidence in public."
The prime minister says the inquiry will be wide-ranging, covering the decisions taken in the run-up to the war, the war itself, and its aftermath. However, he says it will not seek to apportion blame. The inquiry will cover the period from the summer of 2001 to the present.
Sir John has said he will consult opposition leaders on the format after they expressed concerns that its terms of reference and membership were too narrow. BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said the panel had been reading through vast amounts of material and were not expected to spell out the exact terms of reference on Thursday - more the broader approach.
In particular, they are concerned about the lack of anyone with military, intelligence or reconstruction experience on the panel. Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs have pushed for changes to the inquiry panel to include people with military and ministerial experience.
In addition to Sir John, a former civil servant, the panel is made up of former diplomat Sir Roderick Lyne, historians Sir Martin Gilbert and Sir Lawrence Freedman and Baroness Prashar. The panel is made up of Sir John, a former civil servant, former diplomat Sir Roderick Lyne, historians Sir Martin Gilbert and Sir Lawrence Freedman and Baroness Prashar.
Key witnesses
Ministers resisted holding an inquiry until the bulk of British troops had left the country. There are about 150 troops left in Iraq helping with training and other non-combat tasks.Ministers resisted holding an inquiry until the bulk of British troops had left the country. There are about 150 troops left in Iraq helping with training and other non-combat tasks.
Among those who have warned against a private inquiry are Lord Butler, the author of the last official report into the Iraq war, which examined government use of intelligence, in 2004.Among those who have warned against a private inquiry are Lord Butler, the author of the last official report into the Iraq war, which examined government use of intelligence, in 2004.
Previously, the Hutton inquiry had looked into the circumstances surrounding the death of government advisor David Kelly.Previously, the Hutton inquiry had looked into the circumstances surrounding the death of government advisor David Kelly.
Former foreign secretary Jack Straw has said he would give evidence in public and No 10 has said Gordon Brown would also do so as long as it did not compromise national security. There were also two inquiries by the foreign affairs committee and the intelligence and security committee.
Downing Street and Tony Blair's spokesman have dismissed reports that initial efforts to hold the inquiry in private were prompted by pressure from the ex-prime minister.
The inquiry is not expected to report until after the general election, which opposition parties say is unacceptable.