Blix to testify in Iraq war inquiry

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=130048§ionid=351020201



Former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix has been called to appear before Britain's Iraq war inquiry panel for a testimony which will shed more light on the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Along with Blix, the "Chilcot" inquiry has also called top military and political officials for giving testimonies before the five-member panel investigating Britain's role in the war and the subsequent conflict.

Authorities in the US and the UK used toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's alleged relationship with al-Qaeda and the supposed weapons of mass destruction in the country as arguments for invading Iraq. This is while no such weapons were ever found after the invasion.

Blix had earlier said that the Iraq war could have been avoided if his commission had been given more time for inspection.

Former head of Britain's domestic security service MI5 Eliza Manningham-Buller, former armed forces chiefs General Mike Jackson and Richard Dannatt will also appear before the inquiry scheduled to take place in London later in July.

The inquiry was launched last July and former UK Premiers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown appeared in its first round of hearings for questioning.

The upcoming session will be held as the inquiry panel is scheduled to report on the issue by the end of the year.