Former UK PM Tony Blair may face war crimes charges: Liberal Democrat peer

Europe, News January 8, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

Tony Blair may face war crimes charges arising from the findings of a public inquiry into the role Britain played in the 2003 Iraq war, the House of Lords has been informed.

Lord Dykes of Harrow Weald, a Liberal Democrat peer, claimed the publication of the long-awaited findings of Sir John Chilcot’s inquiry into the Iraq war had been delayed to drag out the anguish of the ex-Labour Prime Minister.

Speaking in the House of Lords on Tuesday, Dykes said the continued delay of Chilcot’s report was an “utter and total disgrace.”

“More and more people think it is some kind of attempt to prolong the agony for Mr Blair facing possible war crimes charges,” he added.

At one time, Blair was one of Britain’s most popular prime ministers. But in the wake of damning allegations stemming from the 8-year war that blackened his political legacy, the former prime minister turned Middle East Envoy and business consultant is reviled by many in the UK.

Reflecting on Britain’s war in Iraq, Blair recently told Vanity Fair the invasion that he and US President George W. Bush pushed for was followed by a “long and hard and brutal and bloody” battle that was far more difficult than anyone had anticipated.

He insisted the problems that currently plague Iraq are “huge,” and denied they have been aggravated by the brutal war his administration presided over.