Message Board

Is the US acting as a sole superpower by snubbing UN? Post your views

London: Two days after weapons expert David Kelly was found dead, the BBC on July 20 disclosed that he was the source for its controversial report claiming British government had "sexed up" a dossier claiming Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, which was used to justify the US-led war on Iraq.

The revelation, which could have far-reaching implications for the troubled government of Prime Minister Tony Blair, was made by BBC's director of news Richard Sambrook after speaking to the family of the Iraq weapons expert who was found dead near his home July 18.

The statement came shortly after Blair said he would accept responsibility for all the actions of government ministers and officials, but ruled out recalling Parliament.

Pressure is mounting on both the government and the BBC over their roles in events leading up to the death of Kelly, few days after he was grilled by Parliamentarians about the sourcing of the "sexed- up dossier" report by Andrew Gilligan. Kelly had then denied he was the main source for a story, though he confessed he had spoken to Gillian.

Police confirmed on July 19 the Ministry of Defence Adviser had bled to death from a cut to his wrist.

Meanwhile the media is full of stories making the issue more intriguing.

In an e-mail reportedly sent to a 'New York Times' journalist hours before his death, Dr Kelly had apparently warned of "many dark actors playing games".

'The Sunday Times' says Dr Kelly told one of its reporters that he felt betrayed by the leaking of his name by the Ministry of Defence and was under "intolerable" pressure by being placed at the centre of the weapons row.

PTI