Thursday, November 24 2005 12:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Vancover: Former Ontario Premier Bob Rae will lead a new public inquiry into the deadly 1985 Air India bombing disaster to examine failures to stop the attack, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan has said.

The announcement came after Rae, the independent investigator appointed to review the Kanishka bombing trial, delivered a report yesterday (Nov 24, 2005) recommending a "focused, policy-based inquiry" to answer lingering questions about the Kanishka bombing which killed 329 people off the Irish Coast.

McLellan, who had tapped Rae in April to evaluate possible next steps after the acquittal of the two principle suspects in the plane bombing, said that he was the ideal person to head the new inquiry given his understanding of the case and rapport with victims' families.

She said a formal order establishing the investigation would be in place to allow swift pursuit of answers about the tragedy.

In his review report, Rae had the 1985 disaster "was mass murder. This was a bombing attack carried out on Canadian civilians and the consequences of that have to be understood by the people of Canada.

He said "the Air India bombings were the worst encounter with terrorism that Canada has experienced. We cannot leave any issues unresolved."

Rae stressed, however, that an inquiry cannot determine civil or criminal responsibility in the downing of Air India Flight 182. "The fundamental objective of an inquiry has to be lessons learned," he told reporters.

Rae's investigation will not be a public probe under the Inquiries Act, unlike the current examination of the deportation and imprisonment in Syria of Ottawa resident Maher Arar.

The investigator rejected the option in his report for fear the process would become a drawn-out "circus of lawyers." It means Rae will not have power to subpoena individuals. He believes this hurdle can be overcome with solid commitments from departments and agencies to produce relevant documents and witnesses, the Canadian Press news agency said.

The review report by Rae came following the acquittal in March of the two principal accused in the bombing of flight 182 on June 23, 1985.

The British Columbia Court had found Ripudaman Singh Malik, a Vancouver-based millionaire businessman and a millworker Ajaib Singh Bagri not guilty of murder and conspiracy charges, triggering a wave of protests from relatives of the victims, who termed the verdict a "second tragedy" and demanded a public inquiry.

Meanwhile, the opposition Conservatives have criticised the new inquiry as a "half measure" and demanded a full-fledged probe.

"A new government will get on with the real inquiry," said Tory Leader Stephen Harper.

The opposition parties plan to bring down the minority Liberals with a non-confidence quote next week, triggering an election.