Blair Iraq grilling sparks protests

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159477.html


Britain's anti-war activists are to launch protests as former Prime Minister Tony Blair returns to Iraq war inquiry for a fresh hearing in the coming weeks.

Campaigners, among them the members of the families that have lost loved ones in the war, will rally in central London in time with Blair's appearance at the Chilcot inquiry, which will be held sometime between January 18 and February 7.

The Stop the War Coalition (StWC), which has organized the protests, has also planned media briefings and street theatres against Blair's rush to war in Iraq based on a “sexed-up” dossier on the Middle Eastern country's weapons of mass destruction.

Tony Blair is believed to be grilled for a second time on the legality of the war in Iraq and the build-up to the invasion in 2003 along with 10 other former British officials including former foreign minister Jack Straw in the upcoming inquiry session.

Blair appeared before the investigative committee for the first time in January 2010 and the committee members now want him to answer questions regarding the new evidence that has come to light since then.

Based on documents declassified in June, Blair appeared to have ignored a warning by former attorney general Lord Goldsmith that invading Iraq would be illegal just one day before the Prime Minister secretly assured former US President George W. Bush of London's support for the invasion.

Goldsmith told Blair in January 2003 that the UN Security Council had not issued an “express authorisation” for resorting to a military option against Iraq.