News / Military

Chilcot rejects calls to set timetable for Iraq inquiry release

Wednesday, 04 February 2015 7:42 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 04 February 2015 7:42 PM ]

AFP photo shows John Chilcot addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee on February 4, 2015.

The head of the official inquiry into the UK war in Iraq says he has no idea when the long-awaited report will be ready.

John Chilcot told the British MPs that he has underestimated the time required to review up to 150,000 documents.

Chilcot rejected calls to set a timetable for the publication of the report as it may "arouse false hopes".

Continued delays

The British government has already been under increasing fire for the continued delays to the report.

The probe is reviewing the participation of UK troops in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq which saw British troops remain in the country for six years.

The inquiry was ordered by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown back in 2009. It was expected to publish its findings within 18 months.

Some critics believe that the report is being held back amid concerns over its political repercussions in the run-up to the upcoming elections.

There are rising speculations that the Chilcot report will be eventually whitewashed to hide the facts about Britain’s decision to go to war under Blair in 2003.

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