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Chilcot report on Britain's role in Iraq war unveiled in London

06 July 2016 14:09 (UTC +04:00)

Baku – APA. The Chilcot Inquiry into Britain's role in the 2003 Iraq War has concluded in London after seven years of delays, RIA Novosti reports.

"We concluded that Britain decided to invade Iraq before the peaceful options for disarmament had been exhausted. Military action at that time was not a last resort," he said. Britain's plans for post-invasion Iraq were 'wholly inadequate,' Chilcot said.

He said UN Security Council had declined to authorise the invasion because, "without evidence of major new Iraqi violations or reports from the weapons inspectors that Iraq was failing to co-operate most members of the Security Council could not be convinced that peaceful options to disarm Iraq had been exhausted".

"In absence of a majority in support of military action, we consider that the UK was, in fact, undermining the Security Council's authority," Sir John said.

"The consequences of the invasion are underestimated," Chilcot said at the press conference. However "Saddam Hussein cannot be removed without invasion," he added.

A legal basis for UK military action in Iraq was "far from satisfactory," Chilcot noted.

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday that he would take full responsibility for any mistakes made during UK invasion of Iraq in 2003. "I will take full responsibility for any mistakes without exception or excuse," Blair said in a statement on his website.