Iraq Inquiry report delayed over secrecy concerns by six months

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London, Nov 17(ANI): The United Kingdom’s Iraq Inquiry report, which aims at probing the role of the country in the war, will be delayed by at least six months over secrecy concerns triggered in a run-up to the war after 2003.

According to the inquiry’s website statement, a debate on whether parts of documents should be censored before they are released online led to the delay.

“These are wide ranging and complex issues, for the Government as well as for the inquiry. We are co-operating fully with the inquiry in completing its task,” Express.co.uk quoted a Cabinet Office spokesperson, as saying.

The panel “has advised the Government that it will need until at least summer 2012 to produce a draft report which will do justice to the issues involved”, the statement said.

“Very considerable progress has already been made, but there is still much to be done. As well as drafting the report, the Inquiry will need to negotiate the declassification of a significant volume of currently classified material with the Government, to enable this to be quoted in, or published alongside, the Inquiry’s report”, it added.

The panel, which is chaired by Sir John Chilcot, had hoped to publish its final report at the end of this year.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had earlier come under fire for allowing his country’s participation in the war.

The completed report will be given to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who will be expected to release it in parliament. (ANI)