Blair faces Iraq war inquiry

Former British prime minster Tony Blair is due to present evidence to an investigative panel probing the premier's contentious war policies in Iraq.

An independent panel of inquiry is to delve into Blair's controversial decision to follow a US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, dragging a large contingent of UK troops into the Middle Eastern country, in order to overthrow the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on grounds of his alleged Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) threats.

The panel will look into allegations of the premier's fabrication of intelligence intended to magnify Saddam's 'menace' in the region in order to dispatch 45,000 British soldiers to Iraq.

Sir John Chilcot, the probe director, announced on Friday that the five week public questioning of a number of Blair's senior officials and military advisers would start on November 24. Yet the ex-PM's interrogation has been scheduled to take place in early 2010.

"Early in the New Year, we shall begin taking evidence from ministers (including the former prime minister) on their roles and decisions," Chilcot said.

"We will ask them to explain the main decisions and tasks, and their involvement," added the five-member investigative body chief.

"That will give us a clear understanding of how policy developed and was implemented, and what consideration was given to alternative approaches," he went on to say.

Meanwhile, families of tens of fallen British servicemen have vowed to confront Blair during the probe with which the ex-leader has pledged 'full' cooperation.

It is not clear whether the incumbent Premier, Gordon Brown, who succeeded Blair in the Labor Party would face similar grilling after he backed a private investigation of the Blair case.