Government 'must print WMD dossier'

12 April 2012

The Government must release a key document concerning Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, it has been reported.

The Information Commissioner has ruled the Government must publish a draft of the 2002 dossier on WMDs that a campaigner claims may contain the first reference to Saddam Hussein having WMD which could be used in 45 minutes.

It was written by the then Foreign Office press secretary, John Williams, who denies it contains the claim.

The BBC reports that an anti-war campaigner requested the draft under Freedom of Information legislation.

Mr Williams, who has since left the Foreign Office, previously denied his version included the 45-minute claim that appeared in the dossier.

And a senior government official told the BBC the 45-minute claim was not mentioned in the draft prepared by Mr Williams.

The 45-minute claim became infamous after BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan reported it had been inserted into the dossier against the wishes of the intelligence services, as Number 10 sought to "sex up" the case for war.

The source for the story, government WMD expert Dr David Kelly, died a month after the report was broadcast in May 2003 after the report prompted a row between the government and the BBC.

His death was then investigated by the Hutton inquiry, which concluded that he had committed suicide and that the 45-minute claim was in the dossier with the full blessing of the then chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, John Scarlett, who is now head of MI6.

The Hutton Inquiry verdict led to the resignation of BBC chairman Gavyn Davies and director general Greg Dyke.

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