UK's Iraq inquiry restarts ahead of Blair evidence

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LONDON, Jan 5 (AFP): Britain's public inquiry into the Iraq war resumed Tuesday after the Christmas break, as questions grew about the looming appearance by Tony Blair, who led the country into the controversial conflict.
Blair is expected to give evidence to the inquiry in the second half of January or early February, while his former communications chief and close ally Alastair Campbell will appear on January 12.
Labour figures are reportedly worried Blair's appearance could cause problems for the ruling party as struggling Prime Minister Gordon Brown starts campaigning in earnest for Britain's general election, to be held by June.
And an Internet campaign has been launched to ensure Blair faces tough questions about why he took Britain into the unpopular war, amid criticisms the probe, led by a retired top civil servant, has gone too easy on some witnesses.
Blair stood shoulder-to-shoulder with then US president George W. Bush over the 2003 invasion, but faced a major backlash in Britain. He resigned in 2007 despite having led his party to three election wins.
Britain justified the invasion at the time by arguing that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction but these were never found.