DATE=8/13/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BRITAIN / IRAQ INQUIRY (S)

NUMBER=2-306437

BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A British judge investigating the death of weapons expert David Kelly has heard a recording of the man expressing doubts about the wording of a government report that raised alarms over Iraq's weapons threat before the war. But, as V-O-A London correspondent Michael Drudge reports, Mr. Kelly said he believed the reports were not intentionally misleading.

TEXT: The recording of the voice of David Kelly appears to cast doubt on claims that the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair purposely exaggerated Iraq's military capabilities to win public support for going to war.

The tape was played Wednesday at the inquiry into the death of Mr. Kelly, a former U-N arms inspector in Iraq who apparently committed suicide last month.

On the tape, Mr. Kelly said he did not think a pre-war government report on Iraq's weapons program had been willfully dishonest by highlighting a claim that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes.

However, Mr. Kelly said the 45-minute claim had gotten disproportionate attention, and he said that was unfortunate.

The death of Mr. Kelly plunged the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair into its worst crisis in six years. (Signed).

NEB/MWD/AWP/MEM/FC