WHITEWASH is the word that best describes the Butler report on the role of British intelligence leading up to the war on Iraq.

The BBC journalist who lost his job after alleging the British government had “sexed up” its pre-war Iraq dossier today praised the Butler report.

Lord Butler’s report into the intelligence on Iraq could help Tony Blair in tomorrow’s by-elections, a political expert said today.

British intelligence on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction in the run-up to war was “seriously flawed” and “open to doubt” Lord Butler’s inquiry declared today.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy today said he was not surprised by Lord Butler’s findings and called for a full public inquiry into the run-up to the Iraq war.

The long-awaited Butler Report into intelligence failings in the run-up to war in Iraq was being published in the UK today, amid fevered speculation in Westminster over whether the finger of blame will be pointed at British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Tony Blair faced fresh questions over his future tonight as it emerged key Cabinet allies pleaded with him to carry on.

THE 45-minute Iraq weapons claim was deliberately used to "dramatise" the Iraqi arms dossier, former chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said yesterday.

The 45-minute claim was deliberately used to "dramatise" the Iraqi arms dossier, former chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said today.

The majority of British people questioned in a new poll think Tony Blair should resign.