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Iraq inquiry to hear details of intelligence on WMD threat
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor25.11.09
New details of British intelligence on Saddam Hussein's suspected weapons of mass destruction were set to be revealed today as two key witnesses appeared before the Iraq inquiry.
On the second day of the public hearings, former Foreign Office officials Sir William Ehrman and Tim Dowse were being quizzed.
Neither man appeared before Lord Hutton's inquiry, although both had key positions when Tony Blair was keen to find evidence that Baghdad was a threat to the West.
Their evidence came as Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth confirmed he was launching a public inquiry into fresh claims of abuse of Iraqi civilians by British troops after the war.
Sir William was the FCO's Director-General of Defence and Intelligence from 2002 to 2004 and Mr Dowse was the Head of Counter-Proliferation from 2001 to 2003.
Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot warned the public that today's hearings would be technically dense but implored them to attend.
The inquiry was set to hear how the UK and US governments assessed Iraq's WMD capacity.
Reader views (3)
ICC in the Hague ! get em on trial after Karadjic
- Roderick Mackintosh, berlin germany
What part of there were NO Iraqi WMDs are those people STILL too thick to understand??? It was already evident at the time of Powell's sham case for it in early Feb 03.
Why wasn't SH even tortured, to death if nececessary, to find those WMDs? BECAUSE HE COULDN'T REVEAL THE LOCATION OF SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T EXIST, that 'existed' only in the LIES and criminal minds of bliar and bush et al.
- Ralph, London
After the Hutton whitewash, why should anyone believe anything these buffoons have to say? This case should be heard in the International criminal Court then maybe the families of soldiers and Iraqi civilians can find justice.
- Val Keller, London UK
