Iraq inquiry will be in private: PM
The Prime Minister has announced an independent inquiry into the Iraq war, but said evidence would be heard in private.
Gordon Brown told the Commons the inquiry would look at the run-up to the war in 2003, the war itself and the following "re-construction" period.
To jeers from Tory MPs, he said it will take a year to report - taking it beyond the next General Election.
The Government had consistently said an inquiry will be held after the UK's combat role in Iraq had ended.
British troops conducted their last combat mission on April 30 and their withdrawal is expected to be completed by July 31.
The Premier told MPs that, with the last UK combat mission over in Iraq, "now is the right time to ensure we have a proper process in place to learn the lessons".
He said the investigation would be an "independent privy councillor committee of inquiry" and stressed: "The inquiry will be fully independent of Government. The scope of the inquiry is unprecedented. It covers an eight-year period.
"The committee will have access to the fullest range of information, including secret information.
"Their investigation can range across all documents, all papers and all material.
"No British documents and no British witness will be beyond the scope of the inquiry."
