Secrecy concerns delay Iraq report

The Iraq Inquiry report will be delayed by at least six months over the release of secret documents, it was announced Thursday.A statement on the inquiry's website blamed the delay on a wrangle over papers revealing decisions taken in the run-up to war in 2003.It is understood ongoing discussions between inquiry staff and government officials are centred around whether parts of documents should be censored before they are published on the website.A Cabinet Office spokeswoman said "These are wide ranging and complex issues, for the Government as well as for the inquiry."We are co-operating fully with the inquiry in completing its task." The inquiry's official statement says the team "has advised the Government that it will need until at least summer 2012 to produce a draft report which will do justice to the issues involved". It adds "Very considerable progress has already been made, but there is still much to be done.As well as drafting the report, the Inquiry will need to negotiate the declassification of a significant volume of currently classified material with the Government, to enable this to be quoted in, or published alongside, the Inquiry's report."That process has begun, but there will be a series of further major requests as drafting progresses."The Inquiry has made clear that it will need co-operation from the Government in completing this in a satisfactory and timely manner." The panel, chaired by Sir John Chilcot, had hoped to publish its final report at the end of this year.Sir John and his team took evidence from witnesses about events prior to the American-led invasion of Iraq.Supporters of the conflict claimed it would rid the country of its weapons of mass destruction (WMD), though no such weapons were found.The war led to the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, who was later hanged.Then prime minister Tony Blair was heavily criticised for the basis on which he committed British troops to the war, which the Ministry of Defence codenamed Operation Telic and in which 179 UK service personnel died.Criticism focused on the so-called "dodgy dossier" which formed part of the case for war, and insufficient plans for the aftermath, commentators said.The statement continues "If the Inquiry concludes that it wishes to criticise any individual, in line with the Inquiry's witness protocol the individual would be informed of the Inquiry's views and offered the opportunity to make representations to the Inquiry." The finished report will be given to Prime Minister David Cameron, who will be expected to publish it in Parliament.