国际英语新闻：British PM to give evidence to Iraq inquiry after election

LONDON, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will not appear before an inquiry into the Iraq war until after the general election, Britain's Sky news reported Wednesday.

    The inquiry, which was announced by Brown in June, launched a long-awaited investigation into whether the war, which has been extremely unpopular in Britain, was illegal.

    The inquiry committee said in a statement that it was determined to remain firmly outside party politics and that the investigation should not be used as a platform for political advantage.

    "For this reason, the committee has decided to wait until after the election to hear from those ministers who are currently serving in the roles about which the committee wishes to question them," the statement said.

    The next British general election must be held some time before the middle of 2010.

    The committee believes that only after the general election can the ministers give their evidence fully without the hearings being used as a platform for political advantage.

    In addition, the committee will also wait until after the election to question Foreign Secretary David Miliband and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander.

    Among a number of senior Labour party figures who were to be questioned in public, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was to be called to give evidence to the inquiry in early February.

    Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey said, however, that giving special treatment to Labour ministers would not only undermine the perception of independence of the inquiry but also would damage the public trust in politics.

    The public hearing opened on Nov. 24 with the chairman of the inquiry commission promising a "fair and frank" investigation, which will cover the entire eight-year period from the build-up to the war to the withdrawal of British troops.

    The first five weeks of public testimony was to come from senior officials and military officers on issues such as equipment, personnel, and the legal basis for military action.

    Private sessions and analysis were to follow before a second round of public sessions in mid-2010.