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Blair Iraq inquiry date announced | Blair Iraq inquiry date announced |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair will give evidence to the Iraq inquiry on 29 January, it has been announced. | Former Prime Minister Tony Blair will give evidence to the Iraq inquiry on 29 January, it has been announced. |
Mr Blair, the highest profile figure to appear before the panel, will face six hours of questioning. | Mr Blair, the highest profile figure to appear before the panel, will face six hours of questioning. |
A public ballot will be held later on Monday for people wanting seats to watch his evidence session. | A public ballot will be held later on Monday for people wanting seats to watch his evidence session. |
Mr Blair, prime minister during the Iraq war in 2003, is expected to answer questions about the build-up to war and planning for its aftermath. | Mr Blair, prime minister during the Iraq war in 2003, is expected to answer questions about the build-up to war and planning for its aftermath. |
His former Downing Street chief-of-staff Jonathan Powell is now facing the committee, chaired by Sir John Chilcot. | |
He will be followed this week by the former defence secretary Geoff Hoon and Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who was serving as foreign secretary in 2003. | He will be followed this week by the former defence secretary Geoff Hoon and Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who was serving as foreign secretary in 2003. |
The ballot for the appearance by Mr Blair 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 for the appearance by Mr Blair 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. |
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 defended "every single word" of the 2002 dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. | He said he defended "every single word" of the 2002 dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. |
The inquiry is looking at UK policy before and after the 2003 war. | The inquiry is looking at UK policy before and after the 2003 war. |