Tony Blair has rejected calls for an independent judicial inquiry into claims that his government misused intelligence on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
However, speaking in the House of Commons today, the British Prime Minister announced that the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee would investigate the allegations and would be able to interview members of the intelligence services.
Mr Blair described as completely untrue, allegations that the claim about Saddam Hussein being able to deploy chemical or biological weapons in 45 minutes was inserted into a dossier at Downing Street's behest.
The Prime Minister rejected calls from both sides of the House for an independent judicial inquiry into the affair but said parliament's intelligence and security committee would be able to interview intelligence service personnel and publish their findings in due course.
Earlier Robin Cook - who resigned from the cabinet in protest at the decision to go to war - said he did not believe the British government's view that rogue elements in the intelligence services were responsible for the unattributable briefings which led to the current crisis.
