Back to the WORLD NEWS

AP
Senior Judge Brian Hutton is leading the inquiry into the death of British government weapons expert David Kelly

The initial testimony in the inquiry by senior Judge Brian Hutton focused on the mental state and technical abilities of David Kelly, a British weapons expert who apparently committed suicide last month.

 Mr. Kelly died after he was linked to a controversial news story aired by the British Broadcasting Corporation that said the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair had purposely misused intelligence data to overstate Iraq's weapons threat as it tried to influence public opinion six months before the war. Mr. Blair and his spokesman vigorously deny the charge.

 The BBC announced after Mr. Kelly's death that he was the primary source for the news story.

 The first witness at the Hutton inquiry was Terence Taylor, a longtime friend of the dead scientist who had worked with Mr. Kelly as a weapons inspector in Iraq. Mr. Taylor described Mr. Kelly as an internationally respected weapons expert who had helped expose Iraq's secret germ warfare program in the 1990s. He said they last talked just four days before Mr. Kelly's death, and the scientist seemed to be in a normal state of mind.

 The next witness was Richard Hatfield, personnel director of the Ministry of Defense, where Mr. Kelly worked. He said Mr. Kelly was Britain's foremost expert on chemical and biological weapons, and as such he was authorized to brief journalists on technical aspects of Iraq's weapons program. 

However, Mr. Hatfield said Mr. Kelly had no permission to speak on controversial political and intelligence matters, such as those contained in the BBC story. Mr. Hatfield said the dead scientist must have come to realize that he had been indiscrete in his contacts with BBC defense correspondent Andrew Gilligan.

 It was Mr. Gilligan who in May reported that Mr. Blair's office had exaggerated Iraq's threat by claiming in a document issued the previous September that Iraq could deploy chemical or biological weapons on just 45 minutes notice. According to Mr. Gilligan, a key Blair adviser had overruled the objections of British intelligence chiefs by inserting the 45-minute claim in the document. The adviser, Alastair Campbell, emphatically denies the Gilligan report. Judge Hutton plans to call Mr. Gilligan to his inquiry on Tuesday.

 Mr. Blair himself plans to testify at some point to the Hutton inquiry, which is expected to continue for at least two months.
.

Blair Spokesman Apologizes for Slur on Dead Scientist Blair to Testify in Judicial Inquiry on Death of Weapons Expert Britain Unconvinced of Need for Iraq War, Admits Blair Iraq Intelligence Controversy Could Have Serious Political Fallout in US, Britain Blair Reaffirms Support for Intelligence on Iraq's WMD Program

.

Email this article to a friend. 
Printer Friendly Version

.

AP
Gov. Gray Davis

 California voters are angry over the state's energy crisis two years ago and a massive budget deficit this year. Many blame the governor for the problems. According to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, nearly two-thirds of registered voters would choose to oust him if a vote were held today.
 
 

AP
Arnold Schwarzenegger

 His fellow Republican, Bill Simon, narrowly lost to Gray Davis in last November's election. Mr. Simon is a candidate in the October recall and he urges the actor-turned-politician to focus on substance.

 "This is not time for sound bites, Hollywood scripts, or short prescriptions," he said.

 Liberal commentator Arianna Huffington is the only prominent woman in the race. 

Green Party candidate Peter Camejo says he and Ms. Huffington have talked about joining forces to create a coalition of voters on the left and environmentalists.
 
 

AP
Peter Ueberroth

 But most who plan to run are political novices who paid $3,500 and submitted 65 signatures, which are required to enter the race. Hopefuls include the owner of a chain of discount tobacco stores who promises relief to the state's beleaguered smokers.

 Porn publisher Larry Flynt is also a candidate, as are former child actor Gary Coleman and a comedian known as "Gallagher."

 Candidate Paul Mariano is a Davis supporter who has offered to hire the governor as his chief of staff, if he loses the recall.
 
 

AP
Cruz Bustamante

 "We need to make sure and vote 'no' on the recall, but just in case, we have to vote 'yes' on Bustamante," Mr. Bustamante said.

 Governor Davis says he is going about his business as usual, staying above the fray and not campaigning. But he calls the recall drive an effort by Republicans to steal the governorship, and he repeated the point on the NBC Today show.

 "This recall is an insult to the eight million people who went to the polls last November and made a decision that I should be governor," he said. "There's a lot of frustration and disappointment out here. I get it. I'm doing my best to work harder to solve people's problems."

 Mr. Davis says he has asked former President Bill Clinton and his wife, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, to campaign on his behalf in California. Both are popular in the heavily Democratic state, and have the celebrity influence of an Arnold Schwarzenegger, which the governor is lacking. 

State officials will certify the final list of candidates Wednesday.
.

Schwarzenegger Urges New York Inner City Youth to Have 'Big Dreams' New California Voter Survey: 64 Percent Want New Governor 90 Candidates Certified to Run in Special Election for California Governor Election Schwarzenegger Candidacy Attracts Attention to California Governor Race Candidates Scramble to Keep Up with Changing Events in California Recall Vote

.

Email this article to a friend. 
Printer Friendly Version

.