(Tony) Blair to cooperate with new Iraq war probe: spokesman

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Source: AFP

LONDON (AFP) — Former premier Tony Blair will cooperate "fully" with a new British probe into the Iraq war, which will have the power to apportion blame, officials said Wednesday.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the inquiry, announced last week to fulfil a pledge for a probe once British troops have mostly left Iraq, would be independent and able to criticise whoever it wants.

"It can praise or blame whoever it likes. It is free to write its own report at every stage," Foreign Secretary David Miliband told lawmakers in a debate on the inquiry in parliament.

A spokesman for Blair said the former premier would cooperate with the probe, chaired by Sir John Chilcott, whatever its format.

"As we've said all along it is for Sir John Chilcott and the prime minister to agree the format of the inquiry and of course Mr. Blair will fully cooperate with whatever they agree," he said.

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