Iraq inquiry likely to be public as Gordon Brown prepares for U-turn

[babsbunny]

Iraq inquiry likely to be public as Gordon Brown prepares for U-turn

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/21/iraq-inquiry-public

David Hencke, Westminister correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 21 June 2009 20.54 BST

The government has given its strongest indication yet that it may back down over plans to hold the forthcoming Iraq inquiry in secret.

Ministerial sources indicated that Gordon Brown is preparing to accept parts of a Conservative motion to be debated on Wednesday that the inquiry "should be wherever possible be held in public".

Jack Straw, the justice secretary, said yesterday that he would be prepared to give most of his evidence to the inquiry in public.

The prime minister announced last week that the inquiry would be held in private but was later forced to open up the terms of the inquiry after pressure from a broad coalition of former generals, former prime minister John Major and peers from all parties.