Kelly blamed Number 10 for '45-minute claim'

BRITISH Government weapons expert David Kelly blamed the Number 10 press office for inserting the controversial "45-minute claim" into the Government dossier on Iraqi weapons, the inquiry into his death was told yesterday.

In a tape-recorded interview with a BBC journalist (played to the inquiry), Dr Kelly drew back from blaming Alastair Campbell personally for the way the claim that some weapons could be deployed within 45 minutes was used.

However, he said that he regarded the Downing Street communications chief as being "synonymous" with the Number 10 press office operation.