Major hits out at Iraq 'whitewash'

In a statement, Sir John - who was premier at the time of the first Gulf War - said the inquiry's findings risked being denounced as a "whitewash" unless there was full disclosure with witnesses giving evidence on oath.

"The Government's decision to hold the inquiry into the Iraq war in private is inexplicable - not least in its own interests," he said.

"Any material which puts our national security at risk must, of course, be withheld but if, as the Government proclaims, its position will be wholly vindicated, then it should welcome maximum publicity on all other disclosures.

"It should also engender confidence in its findings by taking evidence under oath. Only then can witnesses be bound to offer full and frank responses."

"The arrangements currently proposed run the risk of being viewed sceptically by some, and denounced as a whitewash by others. I am astonished the Government cannot understand this."

He spoke out after Downing Street appeared to open the way for some hearings to be held in public.

The Prime Minister's spokesman said that it had never been "an issue of theology" for the Government whether hearings were held in the open or behind closed doors.

He said that it would be up to the inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot to decide how it should be structured in order to achieve its objective of establishing the truth of what happened.

But he stressed the Government did not want to see a lengthy public inquiry such as the Saville Inquiry into the Bloody Sunday killings which went on for years and involved "countless lawyers".