PM faces rebellion over war inquiry

Prime Minister Gordon Brown last week abandoned plans for a behind-closed-doors probe after they were met with scorn by a stream of senior political and military figures.

Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot has said he believes it is "essential" that proceedings are open wherever possible and is examining demands for witnesses to be put under some form of oath.

He held talks with opposition party leaders on Tuesday in a bid to devise a process that will command the support of MPs and the public amid ongoing criticism.

The Tories are due to use a Commons debate to press for a revised version of the inquiry's terms of reference to be put to a vote of MPs. And Mr Brown now faces a rebellion by some Labour MPs who say witnesses such as former prime minister Tony Blair, who led the UK into the conflict, should be forced to give evidence under oath.

Mr Blair was reported to have urged his successor to keep the inquiry behind closed doors to avoid it becoming a show trial of himself and other senior figures.

Speaking after his talks with Sir John, Tory leader David Cameron said ministers were "making it up as they go along" and wanted to force "a proper U-turn".

"They need to come to the House of Commons and say it is predominantly public, they need a wider membership, they need military experience and they need to guarantee that Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Alastair Campbell (Mr Blair's former communications chief) give evidence in public," he said.

"We want to see an inquiry committee with more military members, with more political experience - much more heavyweight and diverse. That's why we will press this in the House of Commons to get a proper U-turn out of the Government."

Critics have accused the Prime Minister of deliberately timing the inquiry, due to begin next month and last a year, to ensure it does not report before the next general election.