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Scientist inquiry could topple senior figures Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters07-22-060143.asp?reg=MIDEAST http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters07-22-060143.asp?reg=MIDEAST UK scientist inquiry could topple senior figures By Andrew Cawthorne LONDON, July 22 — If he thought Northern Ireland and the Pinochet saga were tough, Britain's Lord Hutton might be thinking again as he starts his latest challenge. The 72-year-old judge has begun an inquiry into the apparent suicide of a government scientist caught up in a row over the case for war in Iraq, which has become the biggest political crisis of Prime Minister Tony Blair's six-year rule. Hutton's probe should establish the winners and losers in a vicious battle between the government and another pillar of the British establishment, the BBC broadcaster. It could bring down some senior figures on both sides. ''The stakes could barely be higher, it's riveting stuff,'' said a London-based foreign diplomat closely tracking the saga. Despite its importance, few expect the Hutton inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly to resolve the wider issue of whether Blair misled Britons by hyping the case for war on Saddam Hussein. It was that grave context which lent Kelly's initially small role -- an off-the-record chat with a journalist -- such importance and put him in a political hot seat he tragically could not cope with. Kelly's conversation with reporter Andrew Gilligan became the BBC's main source for a story that Blair officials had ''sexed up'' a dossier on Saddam's banned weapons by saying they could be deployed within 45 minutes. That BBC story, from May, has been dominating the Blair-Iraq debate ever since and led to the outing of Kelly as the source. It is there Hutton will have to start. SAGA ''POISONING'' POLITICAL SYSTEM Hutton is used to tricky politics after senior legal posts in Northern Ireland and sitting on the panel of lords which ruled on the case of Chile's ex-dictator Augusto Pinochet, who was arrested in Britain in 1998. Hutton has pledged his inquiry will be done ''with expedition'' and mostly in public. Many politicians would like it finished before the annual conference of the ruling Labour Party in September. But on the evidence of similar inquiries in the past, that seems unlikely. By dragging out the furore, the investigation will only heighten many Britons' disgust with the whole ''Westminster Village'' of politicians and media whom many feel share responsibility for driving a good man to a lonely end. ''The general public takes the view that the politicians and the BBC are arguing about comparatively trivial matters of interest only to those in a square mile around Whitehall, while a man who was not political was harassed and driven to suicide,'' Oxford politics professor Vernon Bogdanor told Reuters. ''This affair is poisoning the whole political system.'' Many people will be sweating over the summer while Hutton seeks to fill in the dotted lines between the BBC report and the discovery of Kelly with his wrist slit last Friday. On the government side, Defence Minister Geoff Hoon is under pressure because his ministry coaxed Kelly to come forward and take questions in public, and confirmed his name to the media. Senior Blair aide Alastair Campbell, viewed by many as the second most powerful man in Britain, is also under fire as the one who, according to Gilligan, did the ''sexing up'' of the dossier. His resignation has been rumoured for weeks. On the broadcaster's side, the BBC top brass is under scrutiny for its backing of Gilligan despite accusations the reporter exaggerated information he received from Kelly and made out he was a more important source than he in fact was. Many urged Hutton to cast his net wide. ''The Kelly tragedy is a pimple on the hide of a bigger elephant,'' columnist Hugo Young wrote. ''Why did Tony Blair go to war?'' Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.

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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