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

Blair rocked by whistle blower death Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6781006%255E401,00.html http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6781006%255E401,00.html Blair rocked by scientist's death By Bruce Wilson in London 20Jul03 PRIME Minister Tony Blair faced a crisis last night after the mysterious death of Dr David Kelly, a government expert on biological and chemical warfare. Dr Kelly's body was found in an Oxfordshire wood near his home just three days after he gave uneasy evidence to a Parliamentary committee investigating leaks to the BBC on allegedly false documents used to promote the war. His naming as a potential "mole" who leaked to the BBC from the heart of the Ministry of Defence transformed the quiet and reclusive boffin into a national figure. Now he is dead. Suicide was the immediate speculation, but Thames Valley police cautioned against speculation. Natural causes from stress on the 59-year-old scientist have not been eliminated. Nor has foul play. Prime Minister Tony Blair was told of Dr Kelly's death as he flew from Washington to meetings in Beijing. Journalists on the flight said Mr Blair appeared stunned. He ordered an immediate judicial inquiry into Dr Kelly's death. Dr Kelly had been cleared by the committee of being the source of information to BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan, who enraged the Blair power machine by broadcasting a story that Mr Blair's closest advisor, Alastair Campbell, had "sexed-up" one of the dossiers on Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. A huge political storm followed, leading to outright warfare between 10 Downing Street and the BBC. Mr Gilligan refused to disclose his informant but the Ministry of Defence said it knew the source. A day later it named Dr Kelly, who admitted he had lunched with Mr Gilligan the day before the story broke, but insisted he had given him no information. The committee accepted this. "We knew after 25 minutes Dr Kelly was not the source," one member said. Dr Kelly had been edgy and almost incoherent giving his evidence. He was an expert on Iraq and Saddam's alleged weapons of mass destruction, having been part of the UN investigating team. But his opinion on whether they existed was another part of the mystery. On Thursday Dr Kelly told his wife he was going for his regular walk in the countryside near their home. When he had not returned home by midnight she alerted police, who found his body nine hours later. It was only then that it started to become clear how close to the innermost secrets of chemical and biological warfare Dr Kelly had become in his role as a contract consultant to the MoD. Dr Kelly's death is certain to deepen the personal crisis Mr Blair is facing at home, where already most Britons believed he deceived them and Parliament in the build-up to war. This report appears on news.com.au.

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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