MI6 in firing line over Iraq

2004-07-04 21:32

London - Britain's secret services will be heavily criticised for their use of intelligence in the run-up to the Iraq war, it is claimed.

The Butler Inquiry, chaired by former Cabinet Secretary Lord Butler, is due to published its report in ten days' time and is expected to conclude that information used to justify the war on Iraq was wrong and not checked properly.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair called the inquiry after criticism when no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq.

Senior Cabinet members say the report must not turn into a "witch-hunt".

Commons leader Peter Hain has defended the intelligence services, saying they do a "fantastic" job.

The Sunday Times says the finger will be pointed at John Scarlett, head of the Joint Intelligence Committee, MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove and attorney general Peter Goldsmith.

But Hain told GMTV's The Sunday Programme: "I do not know whether the Butler Report will be critical or not.

"But let's just wait for Lord Butler to report and then we will make a judgment. There may be lessons to be learned.

"I think the secret intelligence service MI6 and the domestic security service MI5 do a fantastic job for us.

"That is not to say that they do not make mistakes from time to time any more than government ministers like me or like the Prime Minister."

- News24