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Dutch set to publish Iraq inquiry Dutch say no mandate for Iraq war
(about 6 hours later)
A Dutch inquiry into the run-up to the Iraq war is to issue its report. A Dutch inquiry into the Iraq war says that military action was not justified by UN resolutions on Iraq.
The current Dutch government set up the inquiry following the leaking of foreign ministry memos casting doubt on the legal basis for the war. The Committee of Inquiry on Iraq said security council resolutions did not "constitute a mandate for... intervention in 2003".
The Netherlands gave political but not military support to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The inquiry was launched after foreign ministry memos were leaked that cast doubt on the legal basis for the war.
The report has the potential to bitterly embarrass the Dutch government and reinforce the international case against the Iraq war. The Netherlands gave political support to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, but has denied having any military role.
The report could bitterly embarrass the Dutch government and reinforce the international case against the Iraq war, says the BBC's Europe correspondent Jonny Dymond.
The Davids Commission - named after the retired senior judge who leads it - was established just under a year ago, following a political revolt against Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende.The Davids Commission - named after the retired senior judge who leads it - was established just under a year ago, following a political revolt against Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende.
It was Mr Balkenende who, back in 2003, lent political support to the invasion of Iraq.It was Mr Balkenende who, back in 2003, lent political support to the invasion of Iraq.
The justification was then made that UN resolutions had been flouted, but a memo from the time by Dutch foreign ministry lawyers, subsequently leaked, suggested that the war was in fact illegal under international law.The justification was then made that UN resolutions had been flouted, but a memo from the time by Dutch foreign ministry lawyers, subsequently leaked, suggested that the war was in fact illegal under international law.
The inquiry has looked into the legality of the war, the quality of Dutch intelligence and the government's decision-making process. The inquiry has looked into the legality of the war, the quality of Dutch intelligence, the government's decision-making process, and whether there was any Dutch military involvement.
While the government has always said its military was not involved in the invasion, questions have been raised because Dutch troops were taking part in exercises nearby at the time.