London, July 30 (ANI): Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be called to give evidence to the Iraq war inquiry, according to inquiry commission chairman Sir John Chilcot.

Sir John Chilcot warned that his team would “not shy away from making criticism” if they uncovered mistakes.

He said that the former Prime Minister, who sent British forces into the conflict alongside the US, would be among witnesses called, The Telegraph reported.

Sir John Chilcot repeated his insistence that, wherever possible, evidence would be heard in public, perhaps live on television, but some sessions would remain behind closed doors.

He was said to have communicated his view to Prime Minister Gordon Brown via the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O’Donnell, fearing a direct conversation would be leaked.

Sir John said on Thursday the panel had already requested Government documents to begin the task of identifying the critical issues on which to focus with the help of legal, military and reconstruction experts.

Brown originally announced that the inquiry would be held behind closed doors and not seek to apportion blame, but was forced into a hasty U-turn amid vehement criticism from senior political and military figures. (ANI)