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Blair Iraq inquiry ballot to open Blair Iraq inquiry ballot to open
(about 5 hours later)
A public ballot will be held later for people wanting seats to watch Tony Blair appear before the Iraq Inquiry.A public ballot will be held later for people wanting seats to watch Tony Blair appear before the Iraq Inquiry.
Mr Blair, prime minister at the time of the war with Iraq in 2003, will appear at the London hearing for one day later this month or in early February. Mr Blair, prime minister during the Iraq war in 2003, will appear for one day this month or in early February.
The ballot is for 60 seats, with a third of the places being set aside for bereaved families of service personnel or other Britons killed in Iraq.The ballot is for 60 seats, with a third of the places being set aside for bereaved families of service personnel or other Britons killed in Iraq.
Mr Blair's former Downing Street chief of staff Jonathan Powell will be a witness at the inquiry this afternoon.
He will be followed later in the week by the former defence secretary Geoff Hoon and Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who was serving as foreign secretary in 2003.
Mr Blair will give evidence for six hours during a morning and afternoon.Mr Blair will give evidence for six hours during a morning and afternoon.
So far officials at the inquiry have only said that the former prime minister will be called sometime in the two weeks after January the 25th.So far officials at the inquiry have only said that the former prime minister will be called sometime in the two weeks after January the 25th.
Tony Blair's former chief of staff in Downing Street, Jonathan Powell, will be a witness at the inquiry on Monday afternoon.
He will be followed later in the week by the former defence secretary Geoff Hoon and Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who was serving as foreign secretary in 2003.
Last week Mr Blair's former director of communications Alastair Campbell appeared before the panel.Last week Mr Blair's former director of communications Alastair Campbell appeared before the panel.
He said he "defends every single word" of the 2002 dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.He said he "defends every single word" of the 2002 dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
Mr Campbell is the most prominent figure to appear so far before the inquiry, which is looking at UK policy before and after the 2003 war.Mr Campbell is the most prominent figure to appear so far before the inquiry, which is looking at UK policy before and after the 2003 war.