British FM Straw tight-lipped over Iraq weapons expert's death

BRUSSELS (AFP) Jul 21, 2003
British Foreign Minister Jack Straw was tight-lipped on Monday about the crisis surrounding the death of a government arms expert caught up in a row over whether Britain was justified in taking part in the US-led invasion of Iraq.

"As you know a full judicial inquiry has been established (..) It is more appropriate to allow that inquiry to proceed," said Straw as he arrived in Brussels for a two-day meeting of European Union foreign ministers.

The government has been under intense pressure following the apparent suicide of microbiologist and arms expert David Kelly, who was confirmed on Sunday as the source behind a BBC news report that claimed Britain had "sexed up" its dossier on Iraq to justify the US-led attack.

As Straw arrived at the meeting a BBC journalist attempted to challenge him on the government's role in the affair, the most serious crisis for the governing Labour Party administration since Prime Minister Tony Blair swept to power in 1997.

"The BBC has admitted that Dr Kelly was in fact their source for this dossier, do you think only the BBC has questions to answer or does the governement as well?" the journalist asked.

Blair has said he will not resign over the crisis but has agreed to appear before the independent inquiry set up to try to establish the precise details surrounding Kelly's death.

WAR.WIRE