NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — pretext — david-kelly — Viewing Item

Blair appears before inquiry into kelly death { August 28 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/28/international0550EDT0464.DTL http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/28/international0550EDT0464.DTL Blair appears before inquiry into weapons adviser's death JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer Thursday, August 28, 2003 ©2003 Associated Press (08-28) 02:50 PDT LONDON (AP) -- Prime Minister Tony Blair told an inquiry Thursday that a dossier used to justify military action against Iraq was based on intelligence sources and was not manipulated for political reasons. Blair told the inquiry in to the death of a government weapons adviser that a claim Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes came from British intelligence. "I also knew it had to be a document that was owned by the Joint Intelligence Committee and its chairman John Scarlett ... We could not produce this as evidence that came from anything other than an objective source," he said. Blair was giving testimony about before an inquiry on why arms expert David Kelly, 59, apparently committed suicide after being identified as the likely source of a BBC report that the government exaggerated the threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction to win support for military action. Blair has vigorously denied misleading lawmakers or the public in the run-up to war. The BBC report sparked a bitter dispute between the public broadcaster and the government, with the credibility of both at stake. Dozens of anti-war protesters jeered Blair as he arrived Thursday at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London. Scores of people had lined up outside the building for a chance to hear Blair give evidence before the inquiry, headed by senior appeals judge Lord Hutton. The Hutton inquiry is trying to determine how the government came to expose Kelly -- a move that placed him under intense media pressure and led him to give testimony before two parliamentary committees. On July 18, three days after he testified, police found Kelly's body with his left wrist slashed. Blair has denied responsibility for identifying Kelly. But in Wednesday's hearing, Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said Blair's office authorized a news release saying an unidentified official at the Defense Ministry -- where Kelly worked -- had acknowledged speaking to a BBC journalist. That created a rush by British reporters to identify the source, with some guessing names until they came up with Kelly's and it was confirmed by the Defense Ministry. Hoon also told the inquiry that Kelly had been treated well and protected by his bosses. The BBC report, broadcast May 29, said an official dossier in September about Iraqi weapons had been "sexed up" by including a claim that Iraq's biological and chemical weapons could be deployed in 45 minutes. The story cited a then-unidentified source as having said Blair's office overruled intelligence advice when it included the claim in the dossier. Kelly said he didn't believe he was the report's source for that information, but after he died the BBC said he was. Also scheduled to appear before Lord Hutton on Thursday are Gavyn Davies, chairman of the BBC, and Tom Mangold, a journalist and close friend of Kelly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the Net: Hutton Inquiry: www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk/ ©2003 Associated Press

Bbc reveals it has key tape Bbc says scientist source { July 20 2003 } Blair aide campbell to expose kelly Blair appears before inquiry into kelly death { August 28 2003 } Blair in crisis Blair rocked by whistle blower death Blair to testify kelly case Blair wants apology from bbc Body found british weapons advisor British defence to destroy media plan Crucial questions kelly death David kelly testimony { July 15 2003 } David kelly [jpg] Eight hours before kelly body found Electric pads suggest recent test Electrodes on chest unusual { August 1 2003 } Inquest to resolve kelly suicude riddle Kelly could not have died from suicide paramedics claim Kelly death details Kelly evidence iraq dirty bomb { August 4 2003 } Kelly inquest is shut closed { March 16 2004 } Kelly mysterious electro pads { August 1 2003 } Kelly said his life was in danger { August 21 2003 } Kelly was key Medics cast doubt on kelly suicide verdict Medics raise kelly death doubts { December 12 2004 } Murder of david kelly ftw 1 Murder of david kelly ftw 2 Murder spoils blairs plans { July 19 2003 } New questions over death of david kelly { June 2006 } Off the cutt remark sent the bbc reeling { January 31 2004 } Paramedics challenge lord hutton over kelly death Russian colleague doubts kelly committed suicide Scientist bled from slashed wrist Scientist inquiry could topple senior figures Scientists death fuels british intelligence row { July 20 2003 } Three doctors dispute kellys death Top judge clashes with ministers { December 14 2004 } Warned dark actors playing games Wide says suicide Wmd authority turns up dead Wmd scientist dead { July 18 2003 } Files Listed: 42

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