MPs Demand Statement on Halt to Wmd Search

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The Government faced angry demands from MPs today for a Commons statement on the decision to abandon the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.Paul Tyler, for Liberal Democrats, urged the Prime Minister to explain the wind-up of the Iraq Survey Group (ISG), confirmed by the White House yesterday.

“Clearly that demonstrates that it was a completely flawed prospectus that the House was given for reasons to go to war in Iraq,” he said.
“We now know that WMD either stands for weapons of mass distraction or weapons of mass deception.”Commons Leader Peter Hain countered: “The information has just come to light from the Survey Group about its changed role. There’s nothing really new in this.”

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had made a statement last October in which these issues were covered in detail, he added.The Government had accepted the conclusions of the ISG on its failure to find evidence of WMD.Tory Roger Gale (N Thanet) demanded a Commons debate before the Iraq elections so MPs could be satisfied that they would be “free and fair”.

Mr Hain said Mr Straw would keep the House closely informed of progress. However this drew a rebuke from Labour’s Tam Dalyell, who scolded: “Gently may the Father of the House say to the Leader of the House that in parliamentary terms on Iraq the answer that you have just given won’t quite do...“It’s high time that we took into account that the House of Commons should have views that are not truncated, should be given in a one or preferably two-day debate.”

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3997072

[dbt]

1. Earth to Democrats, Earth to US Media:

HELLO-o-o-o-o! Is there anybody in there-there-there?

*crickets*

:argh:
dbt