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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Iraq probe head rejects criticism | Iraq probe head rejects criticism |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The chairman of the Iraq Inquiry has insisted Tony Blair will give evidence in public, while rejecting claims the panel is being too secretive. | |
| Sir John Chilcot said his team had not been "trying to ambush witnesses or score points" and denied they had not been tough enough on witnesses so far. | Sir John Chilcot said his team had not been "trying to ambush witnesses or score points" and denied they had not been tough enough on witnesses so far. |
| But in his statement he did appear to suggest that not all of them had been completely "open and candid". | But in his statement he did appear to suggest that not all of them had been completely "open and candid". |
| Mr Blair is due to appear before the inquiry in the New Year. | Mr Blair is due to appear before the inquiry in the New Year. |
| Sir John made his remarks before suspending public hearings of the inquiry for Christmas. | Sir John made his remarks before suspending public hearings of the inquiry for Christmas. |
| 'Absolutely clear' | 'Absolutely clear' |
| Earlier this week, the live video feed of a witness's testimony was halted for just over a minute for reasons of national security, prompting some accusations of secrecy. | Earlier this week, the live video feed of a witness's testimony was halted for just over a minute for reasons of national security, prompting some accusations of secrecy. |
| But Sir John said there was "an exceptional level of openness", which had led to a huge amount of "valuable and illuminating evidence" being gleaned already. | |
| "My colleagues and I remain committed to hearing as much of the evidence in public as possible," he continued. | |
| "Evidence will only be heard in private in the narrow circumstances we have set out in the protocols on our website. | "Evidence will only be heard in private in the narrow circumstances we have set out in the protocols on our website. |
| Most witnesses have responded to this approach by being commendably open and candid Sir John ChilcotIraq inquiry chairman UN Iraq blast 'hindered UK work' | |
| "But I would like to be absolutely clear about this - evidence sessions with key decision-makers, including the former prime minister, will be in public. | "But I would like to be absolutely clear about this - evidence sessions with key decision-makers, including the former prime minister, will be in public. |
| "They will be openly questioned about the big issues that they were involved in." | "They will be openly questioned about the big issues that they were involved in." |
| The inquiry has heard from 38 witnesses to date, including civil servants and senior military figures involved in the run-up to and aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. | |
| Sir John said his aim was to obtain "full and truthful answers" to "fair questions". | |
| "That is the essence of a formal public inquiry, and most witnesses have responded to this approach by being commendably open and candid, highlighting a number of issues which we shall examine much more closely as the inquiry continues." | "That is the essence of a formal public inquiry, and most witnesses have responded to this approach by being commendably open and candid, highlighting a number of issues which we shall examine much more closely as the inquiry continues." |
| He also announced that the inquiry would not sit during next year's general election campaign. | |
| "We are determined to remain firmly outside party politics," he said. | |
| "We have informed members of Parliament that we are ready to meet them if they want an explanation of our working methods, but the inquiry should not be used as a platform for political advantage." | |
| The chairman said he expected to begin seeking the declassification of relevant documents concerning the war early in the new year. |