Make-or-break week for Blair at Kelly probe

TONY BLAIR was yesterday facing a make-or-break week as he prepared to appear before the inquiry into the death of Ministry of Defence weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

The British Prime Minster spent the weekend being briefed by Government lawyers on his evidence to Lord Hutton. Mr Blair's part in outing Dr Kelly as the Iraq dossier mole was under fresh scrutiny after evidence to the inquiry was published on the Internet over the weekend.

Left-wing Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn claimed yesterday that the affair had become the prime minister's "Watergate".

He said: "The longer this inquiry goes on, the more e-mails appear, the more documents appear, the more damning evidence appears."

Shadow Defence Secretary Bernard Jenkin said: "What we are looking for ... from Lord Hutton, eventually is a series of recommendations that will put the running of the British government on to a proper and reliable footing."

Vast numbers of Downing Street documents, which are normally kept secret for 30 years, were included in Saturday's unprecedented release. The way Dr Kelly, a civil servant, was thrust into the public eye has become a key issue in the investigation.

He was named as the source for BBC reports that intelligence was "sexed up" after admitting meeting journalist Andrew Gilligan.

The PM's intimate involvement in the decision to announce that a possible source for the claims had come forward is documented in the inquiry's evidence released on Saturday.

Mr Blair was warned during discussions at No 10 that naming Dr Kelly might place him under "wider pressure".

His aides helped draft the July 8 Ministry of Defence announcement that a possible source had come forward.

And No 10 media chief Alastair Campbell told one journalist hunting the source he was on the wrong track.

Mr Blair was also warned that Dr Kelly would need "careful briefing" so as not to reveal doubts about Government claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction if his name came out.

Reaction within the BBC as the vicious battle with Downing Street unfolded is chronicled in a flurry of internal memos and e-mails.

Also published was an official complaint from Dr Kelly's widow, Janice, about a perceived attempt by the Government to smear the dead scientist.

Mrs Kelly's solicitor demanded to know who was behind a remark to a journalist by the prime minister's official spokesman, Tom Kelly, that the scientist was a "Walter Mitty" fantasist.

The inquiry may hear from Mrs Kelly first hand when friends and relatives of the former weapons inspector testify next week.

Mr Blair was expected to face tough questioning over the outing of her husband when he makes his own appearance on Thursday.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, who also appears before the inquiry this week, has borne the brunt of criticism for the emergence of Dr Kelly's name.

Labour MP Fabian Hamilton said the Defence Secretary may have to be a "sacrificial lamb".

He said: "I have heard it quoted that Geoff Hoon believes this is the end of his career, this whole Dr Kelly affair. That would be unfortunate, but clearly things weren't done absolutely right."

John Scarlett, chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, will appear before the inquiry today.

He may be questioned on his warning to Mr Blair about the impact of naming Dr Kelly.

Among the documents released over the weekend is one detailing a No 10 meeting in which Mr Scarlett asked: "If Dr K name becomes public will Government be criticised for putting him under 'wider pressure'?"