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Chilcot inquiry in visits to Iraq

Sir John ChilcotSir John Chilcot said there could be further public hearings if the evidence was not conclusive

The UK’s Iraq inquiry has visited the cities of Baghdad and Basra as part of its fact-finding mission.

Members of the panel held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Labeed Abbawi and former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, as well as leading Iraqi officials.

Its report, into the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq and its aftermath, is due to be published early next year.

Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot promised that the panel would “seek to fill” any “gaps in the evidence”.

Its public hearings in central London, which numbered former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown among the witnesses, concluded in July.

But Sir John said there could be more sessions, if it was judged that the information gathered so far was inadequate.

From 26 September to 1 October, four of the five-member inquiry panel visited Iraq for private discussions with leading politicians and officials.

As well as Mr Abbawi and Mr Allawi, these included Iraq’s planning minister Ali Baban and Ahmed Chalabi, leader of the Iraqi National Congress Party.

United Nations, European Union and World Bank officials also held discussions with the panel.

Sir John said: “Since the end of the public hearings in July, we have heard from many individuals; from British service personnel who served in Iraq, to Iraqi politicians and civilians living and working in the country today.

“All those meetings have been immeasurably helpful to the committee, and we are grateful to those who have hosted us and those who have taken the time to meet us to share their insights and experiences.”

He added: “As I have said before, if there are gaps in the evidence we will seek to fill them, including seeking further written evidence or potentially holding a small number of further public hearings either with new witnesses or with those from whom we have heard before.

“Writing the report is an immense task but our objective remains to publish the report in early 2011.”

In September, the inquiry also held private talks with Matthew Rycroft, Mr Blair’s former private secretary dealing with foreign affairs, and Sir Nigel Sheinwald, the UK’s former ambassador to Washington.

The panel is looking specifically at the UK’s role in planning for the war and in its aftermath, including aid efforts and the economic reconstruction of Iraq.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Cuts endanger UK, warns RAF man

RAF Typhoon jetsAir Marshal Timo Anderson dismissed criticism of Typhoon jets from “armchair theorists”

A senior RAF officer has warned that cuts to military aircraft numbers would leave the UK vulnerable to attack.

Air Marshal Timo Anderson, director general of the Military Aviation Authority, addressed MPs in a private talk, and gave a stark assessment on cuts expected to be outlined next week.

The RAF is expected to lose significant numbers of jet fighters in spending cuts of up to 10% over four years.

Air Marshall Anderson said it would be harder to combat a 9/11-style attack.

The first part of the review – setting out the strategic context – will be announced on Monday, with the main spending decisions to be set out in a statement to Parliament on Tuesday.

Air Marshal Anderson gave a strong defence of the RAF to MPs, amid fears in the service that it will bear the brunt of defence cuts.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of the prime minister’s National Security Council, he said that aircraft such as Tornados and Typhoons were vital, “despite what amateur theorists might assert from their armchairs”, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Prime Minister David Cameron was recently quoted as saying it was not right for the RAF to have planes that were ready for dog fights with the Soviet Union air force.

But Air Marshal Anderson told MPs that “without such an air defence capability, the UK would not be able to guarantee security of its sovereign air space”, and that the UK would be “unable to respond effectively to a 9/11-style terrorist attack from the air.”

He also argued that the RAF offered a “flexible political and military tool”, whose use was often less costly in every sense than the large-scale commitment of ground forces.

“The high level of investment in high-end combat aircraft and air defence systems by, for example, Russia and China… indicates that the essential requirement for control of the air has not been lost on nations whose future interests and political orientation may not necessarily be well disposed to the UK,” he said, according to the newspaper.

The National Security Council met on Tuesday for about an hour. The prime minister’s spokesman said “very good progress” had been made.

The council has focused on defence equipment and procurement in recent meetings, and it was expected to look at the broader picture as the review enters its final stages.

This includes what is needed for counter-terrorism and cyber-security, as well as what kind of conventional military forces the country wants for the future.

BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says all the indications are that the government is keen for the UK to retain its role on the world stage, as well as fulfilling its current commitments in Afghanistan.

The individual services have been increasingly at odds with one another as the strategic defence and security review approaches, with signs that Army numbers are likely to be spared, and that the Royal Navy will get its two aircraft carriers, though may have to sacrifice some of its surface fleet – while the RAF could see many jets and some bases cut.

Air Marshall Anderson became the first director general of the Military Aviation Authority when it was established in April. Its role is to ensure that military airworthiness regulations are met.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Ukraine train collision kills 42

Ukraine map

At least 37 people have been killed in a collision between a train and a small bus in eastern Ukraine, officials say.

The incident happened in the Dnipropetrovsk region, a police spokesman said.

The bus attempted to cross the track, ignoring a siren warning of an approaching train, local railway officials are quoted as saying by AP news agency.

Rescuers and investigators are working at the scene of the crash, they said.

The accident occurred at about 0900 local time (0600 GMT) in the town of Ordzhonikidze, police said.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

QUB student contracts meningitis

Queen's University, BelfastA first year Queen’s student has suspected meningitis

At least one student studying at Queen’s University in Belfast is being treated for suspected meningitis.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has confirmed that the case emerged at the weekend. Since then a second case has been reported but not confirmed.

Both students are in first year and are studying dentistry.

The PHA confirmed that antibiotics will be offered to all first year dentistry and medical students who share lectures as a precautionary measure.

The agency said it was working closely with the university’s senior medical officer to ensure all necessary measures were taken.

In a statement the PHA said that although meningitis was not common in the 16-24 age group, young people should be aware of the signs and symptoms.

These may include severe headache, dislike of bright lights, vomiting, neck stiffness, a non-blanching rash and drowsiness.

Should people develop any of these symptoms they should contact their GP or local A&E department immediately.

Students and young people should also watch out for these signs and symptoms in their friends.

A first-year student at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown, died from meningitis in September.

County Antrim teenager Fergal McCaughan from Ballycastle had just started a business studies degree at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Chile mine rescue attempt nears

breaking news

An attempt to rescue 33 Chilean miners trapped deep underground will begin at midnight on Wednesday (0300 GMT), Mining Minister Laurence Golborne says.

A test of the rescue capsule has been carried out successfully, descending almost the whole way down the 622m (680yd) shaft, engineers say.

Earlier, the top 90m was reinforced with metal casing to prevent crumbling.

The miners have been trapped since a collapse in the mine on 5 August, but were reached by a drill on Saturday.

The “Plan B” drill that reached the miners left the San Jose mine, near the town of Copiapo, to a rousing reception on Monday.

The drill was driven away surrounded by crowds of photographers and cheers by hundreds of people across the site.

Shortly afterwards, officials briefed the media on the latest developments in the bid to bring the miners to the surface.

Chief engineer Andre Sougarret said a formal test of the shaft had been successful, with the specially constructed Phoenix rescue capsule barely registering a scratch as it travelled up and down the tunnel.

The top 90m have been lined with metal to prevent the crumbling surface rocks from breaking away during the rescue.

But experts say the rest of the escape shaft is dug through solid rock and will not break up.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Minister attacks tuition fee plan

Education Minister Leighton AndrewsLeighton Andrews will respond to the Browne recommendations

Welsh education minister Leighton Andrews is to respond to the findings of a review of higher education in England being published on Tuesday.

It is expected the cross-party Browne review will recommend the cap on university tuition fees is scrapped.

This would allow institutions to charge more than double the £3,290 a year they currently receive.

The assembly government says it is keeping an eye on developments and will consider the implications for Wales.

Other expected recommendations in Lord Browne’s report include higher interest rates for the repayment of student loans.

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Though devolution gives Welsh ministers the opportunity to diverge from English policy on universities, some educationalists fear the consequences of doing so in this case.

They have warned that if English universities were able to charge tuition fees of £7,000 a year and their counterparts here were not, an existing funding gap between English and Welsh universities could get even larger.

‘A disaster for Wales’

Last year the Welsh affairs select committee estimated that the gap already costs Welsh universities £61m a year.

Andrew Parry from Glynwdwr University in Wrexham told BBC Wales that a two-tier system where Welsh universities fall behind English ones is a distinct possibility.

National Union of Students Wales president Katie Dalton said: “The cap being raised is a disaster for Wales in that institutions in England will be able to charge more and Welsh insitutions would be underfunded.”

The proposals for England are being outlined by a panel of experts, chaired by former BP chief Lord Browne.

An initial response from Education Minister Leighton Andrews on how Wales reacts to the proposed changes in England is expected on Tuesday afternoon.

It may be some time before there is full clarity on these issues, as the way the Browne recommendations will be taken forward by the UK coalition government is ot yet clear.

‘Dishonest’

The Liberal Democrats campaigned at the general election against fee rises and all the party’s MPs have signed a pledge to oppose them.

Ministers have been trying to reach a compromise that will be progressive enough to secure their backing.

Ceredigion Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has said it would be “dishonest” if he voted with the coalition government to scrap the upper limit on university tuition fees in England.

Mr Williams said it was “huge principle” and he would vote against it.

Mr Williams told BBC Wales: “I think it would be dishonest for me personally to do anything other than that and an abstention is not a vote against those increases.

“I’ve fought four elections in the Ceredigion constituency with two excellent universities – in Lampeter and Aberystwyth – and I’ve made commitments over those four elections and specifically at the last general election and on that basis I’m sticking by that pledge.”

The UK government is also considering asking all but the poorest graduates in England to pay a “market” rate of interest on their student loans.

Currently all graduates pay a low interest rate, linked to the base rate, on their tuition fee and maintenance loans.

The earnings level at which they start repaying loans may also be raised.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Missing mother police find body

Laura WilsonLaura Wilson was last seen by friends near her home on Saturday night

A body has been found by police searching for a missing teenage mother in South Yorkshire.

Laura Wilson, 17, was last seen by friends on Saturday night close to her home in the Holmes area of Rotherham.

Police divers began searching the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Canal after items thought to be Miss Wilson’s were found nearby.

A 17-year-old local youth has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is helping police with their inquiries.

Miss Wilson’s four-month-old daughter is being cared for by relatives, who have been informed of the discovery.

South Yorkshire Police said the body was found in the canal near Steel Street on Tuesday afternoon.

A spokesman said: “The body has not been formally identified and a post-mortem is due to take place tomorrow morning.

“At this stage the death is being treated as suspicious as a matter of routine.”

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.