LONDON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced an independent inquiry into the Iraq war yesterday, six years after his predecessor Tony Blair controversially backed the US-led invasion.
Brown said the probe would not “apportion blame” but simply seek to learn lessons to “strengthen the health of our democracy,” while praising the role of British forces in Iraq.
But David Cameron, leader of the main opposition Conservatives who are tipped to win the next general election, accused him of deliberately delaying publication of the findings until after the poll to avoid any “inconvenient conclusions.” “I’m today announcing the establishment of an independent privy councilor committee of inquiry,” Brown told the House of Commons.
“It will consider the period from summer 2001 before military operations began in March 2003 and our subsequent involvement in Iraq right until the end of July this year.” The inquiry will examine the circumstances leading up to Britain’s decision under Blair to support then US President George W. Bush in the March 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, and its aftermath.
Brown has long promised a probe into the war after all but a handful of Britain’s 4,100 troops withdraw from Iraq by an agreed date of July 31.
He is now facing a row over whether or not it will be held in private.
