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Blair to testify kelly case Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1396252,00.html http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1396252,00.html Blair to testify in Kelly case 02/08/2003 16:28 - (SA) Michael McDonough London - The judge heading an inquiry into the suicide of government weapons adviser David Kelly said Friday he will ask Prime Minister Tony Blair to testify. Lord Hutton, an appeals judge, said he would ask Blair to give evidence about a decision to name Kelly as the possible source for a disputed news report on the government's handling of intelligence on Iraqi weapons. Blair's office said the prime minister "will co-operate fully with the inquiry". Hutton made clear that he planned a wide-ranging inquiry not just into Kelly's death, but into the government dossier on Iraqi weapons which was at the core of the dispute which brought Kelly into the spotlight. Speaking at a preliminary hearing, Hutton said he would also seek to question Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, and Blair's communications director Alastair Campbell. Conservative party lawmaker Oliver Letwin said he was encouraged by the scope of Hutton's inquiry. "It will clearly go deep and in going deep I hope it will also go wide enough to begin to give everybody a clearer idea of the way in which the Government handled the presentation of intelligence material," Letwin told British Broadcasting Corp radio. Sexed-up dossier "It is clear that Lord Hutton is determined to ensure that no stone is left unturned," Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said. Kelly, a respected former UN weapons inspector and adviser in the Defence Ministry, was the source for a BBC report citing claims that Blair's aides doctored an intelligence dossier on Iraqi arms to exaggerate the threat posed by Saddam's weapons and win backing for the war. Specifically, the BBC quoted an unidentified source as saying Blair's office insisted on including a claim that Iraqi chemical and biological weapons could be deployed within 45 minutes, although experts were skeptical of the assertion. The microbiologist's body was found July 18 with his left wrist slashed. Two days later, the BBC confirmed that Kelly was the source for its report, which had sparked a confrontation with the government. Hutton said he would explore how BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan compiled his report, and how the Defence Ministry came to name Kelly as the possible source for the story. The identification placed him under intense media scrutiny and led him to give testimony before a parliamentary committee. Blair has denied authorizing the decision to name Kelly, while the Defence Ministry has refused to comment before the start of Hutton's inquiry. Daughters in dock Hutton said on Friday he would also ask to speak to Gilligan, the chair of the BBC Gavyn Davies, Kelly's widow Janice Kelly and possibly one or more of the scientist's daughters, as well as a psychiatrist in an attempt to determine Kelly's state of mind before his suicide. He added that he would ask a witness from a government department "to give evidence of Dr Kelly's expertise on chemical and biological warfare and of his employment in the government and of his knowledge of the September dossier (on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction) and of any part he played in the preparation of that dossier". The inquiry would be held in public unless considerations of national security made it impossible to do so, Hutton said. It would resume on August 11, after Kelly's funeral scheduled for Wednesday. The judge said he would ask doctors if they could explain why four electrocardiogram electrode pads were found on Kelly's chest after his death. He said the Home Office pathologist who conducted the autopsy, Dr Nicholas Hunt, noted that Kelly had a "significant degree of coronary heart disease," but concluded that it was "not major part in the cause of death". - Sapa-AP

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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