International News
I have nothing to hide on Iraq war: Gordon Brown
Posted on: Wed January 13, 2010
International Highlights
LONDON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted he had nothing to hide over the 2003 Iraq war Wednesday, after a public inquiry heard of his key role in planning it.Speaking a day after Tony Blair s former communications chief gave evidence to the inquiry, Brown also said he stood by decisions taken by the British government in the run-up to the conflict. The British leader faced angry calls in the House of Commons to give his evidence to the Iraq probe before this year s general election, expected in May, even though its officials say he will not be called until afterwards. I have nothing to hide on this matter, I m happy to give evidence, Brown told lawmakers, adding that he would testify to the Chilcot inquiry when it wanted him to. Asked if he was sorry for the war, Brown who was Blair s finance minister at the time said: I stand by the decisions we made . But he admitted that mistakes were made in the aftermath of the invasion, led by the United States but to which Britain was the second-biggest contributor of troops. I ve already said that the reconstruction that was done after the war effort in Iraq was insufficient, he said.
Courtesy : The News