Demonstrators protest against the former prime minster at his second appearance before the Iraq inquiry
21 January 2011 - A month before the Iraq war began a million people marched through London. This morning, almost eight years later, barely 100 activists mustered outside the conference centre opposite Westminster Abbey as Tony Blair returned to the Chilcot inquiry for perhaps his last official involvement in the conflict's aftermath.
Demonstrators, who were easily outnumbered by the combined forces of police and media, conceded the passage of time had inevitably lessened public interest. Additionally, they said, few people seemed to have any faith that Chilcot would change anything.
Some, however, remained hopeful. "It's going to be something of a whitewash, but not on the scale of something like Hutton," said Richard Brackenbury from London, like most of those protesting a keen supporter of the Stop the War coalition.
"In certain ways Chilcot has already surprised us. The very fact that Blair has been recalled shows that Chilcot doesn't find him particularly credible. That's something." {continued}
Former prime minister tells Chilcot inquiry he did not bypass colleagues in backing US
21 January 2011 - Tony Blair has insisted in his latest appearance before the Chilcot inquiry in London that he did not bypass his cabinet colleagues in deciding that Britain should help the US in the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The former prime minister – tanned but now grey-haired – repeated the evidence he gave to the inquiry when he appeared before it in open session exactly a year ago, that the international situation changed fundamentally after the al-Qaida terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001. {continued}
This is also a live blog update as the testimony is given on important points made by the questions and answers, so it will be still up after the hearing}
• Tony Blair denies offering George Bush a "blank cheque"
• Former PM defends decision to keep notes to Bush private
• 'Entitled to ignore warning war illegal without 2nd resolution'
• He suggested military leader should rule Iraq post-Saddam
• Read more: Blair says cabinet was fully informed about invasion
The above url is the link to the Inquiries wensite where you can also watch it Live, when in session, as well as the archived video testimony, archived written testimony and other papers, released documents of the private sessions testimony and much more.
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