23/6/09
Former British prime minister Tony Blair was under pressure yesterday to appear in public at the Iraq war inquiry, as evidence emerged suggesting he may have known Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction. Mr Blair lobbied Gus O’Donnell, the head of the civil service, fearing that a public appearance at the inquiry could turn into a “show trial”. This seemed to have backfired when it became clear that part of the inquiry will after all be heard in public, with Mr Blair the focus of calls to appear. Cabinet ministers conceded that conversations between Mr Blair and Sir Gus had taken place.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25673244-2703,00.html