Blair 'on trial' over Iraq

Published on Sunday 21 June 2009 23:13

TONY Blair faces calls to give evidence under oath and in public to the Iraq war inquiry following reports that he urged Gordon Brown to hold the probe behind closed doors.

The pressure for the former Prime Minister to be made to testify openly about the 2003 invasion came after it emerged Mr Blair had spoken about the inquiry to the country's most senior civil servant, Sir Gus O'Donnell.

Mr Blair is said to have warned against a "show trial", though Downing Street denied that he had interfered.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who described the intervention of the former Prime Minister as "outrageous", said Mr Blair should be made to appear in public under oath.

"If the inquiry is to have any legitimacy the prime architect of the decision to go to war in Iraq, alongside George Bush, should give his evidence in public under oath," he said.

In a clear break from last week's message, ministers signalled many sessions could be held in public anyway.