Kelly bled to death - report

2003-07-19 16:18

London - The British weapons expert at the centre of a row over the British government's Iraq arms dossier bled to death after apparently slashing his own wrist, police said on Saturday.

After confirming that a body found on Friday west of London had been formally identified as that of defence official David Kelly, a Thames Valley police spokesperson said there was no evidence anyone else was involved.

"The cause of death was haemhoragging from a wound to his left wrist," the police spokesperson said.

"The injury is consistent with having been caused by a bladed object.

"We have recovered a knife and an open packet of (painkilling) Co-Proxymol tablets at the scene. Whilst our inquiries are continuing there is no indication at this stage of any other party being involved."

Kelly, 59, was a Ministry of Defence consultant on biological weapons and former UN arms inspector in Iraq.

His body was found in a wooded area near his home in Oxfordshire on Friday, a day after he was reported missing by his family.

His disappearance came two days after he denied being the source of a BBC report that a February dossier on weapons of mass destruction, which was used to justified the war in Iraq had been "sexed up" by British government officials.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, currently in Japan, has promised a judicial inquiry into Kelly's death. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA