Blair to be questioned in Kelly's case
CCTV.COM 2003-08-02 08:08:25

In London, the judge appointed to lead a hearing into the death of weapons expert Dr. David Kelly has announced that British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be called to give evidence to the inquiry into the death of the scientist.

Upon opening the first session of the inquiry, Lord Hutton led a minute's silence for Dr. David Kelly, who allegedly took his life after becoming embroiled in the row between the government and the BBC over claims that Downing Street had overstated the capability of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Lord Hutton said he had three main objectives: to investigate the circumstances leading up to Dr. Kelly's death, to do so urgently and to proceed with fairness.

He outlined the chronology of events that led to Dr. Kelly's death before announcing those witnesses he wished to call.

How Dr. Kelly's name was made public will be a key question for Lord Hutton. However, he made it clear that the two sides would not be allowed to use the inquiry to try to prove their cases.

He provided the hearing with a timetable including the publication of the government dossier released last September which included a controversial claim that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes.

Lord Hutton adjourned proceedings until August 11. Although the government has said Hutton's inquiry will focus tightly on events leading up to Kelly's death, British opposition politicians want a broader scope to examine the underlying case for Blair's decision to join the US invasion of Iraq.

Blair's credibility ratings have plunged as the argument over the case for war rages on, and banned weapons have yet to be discovered in Iraq.

Editor: Yang Feiyang
CCTV.com