War Protesters Accuse Blair Of 'Sneaking' In

Protesters have said they are angry Tony Blair "sneaked" into the Iraq inquiry venue ahead of his second session of evidence.

Mr Blair arrived two hours before his hearing was set to begin, pausing briefly to allow photographers to take his picture.

In contrast to his previous evidence session, he was not greeted by hundreds of protesters as he got there before most had assembled.

Andrew Murray, chairman of the Stop The War Coalition, said the former prime minister had "sneaked in under cover of darkness".

He called on the panel to challenge Mr Blair to "tell the truth" about the legality of the war.

The father whose son, Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley, died in Iraq, said he was not surprised Mr Blair avoided the protests.

Accusing the ex-prime minister of being an alleged "war criminal", Peter Brierley said he should be put on trial as he has the right to leave Sir John Chilcot's inquiry at any time.

Another protester, Chris Nineham, told Sky News there remained "scepticism" about the hearings.

"There have been four of these inquiries and the truth hasn't come out," he said.

Mr Blair was called back to give further evidence by Sir John Chilcot's panel.

He told the inquiry he disregarded his top legal adviser's warning that attacking Iraq would be illegal without further UN backing because the guidance was "provisional".

Anger at the former prime minister was also evident during the hearing itself as members of the public gallery shouted that it was "too late" for him to express regret.

Some in the audience were openly crying.

Mr Blair recalled the answer he gave at his last appearance which critics claimed suggested he did not regret the loss of life.

"I wanted to make it clear that, of course, I regret deeply and profoundly the loss of life, whether from our own armed forces, those of other nations, the civilians who helped people in Iraq or the Iraqis themselves," he said.

Reg Keyes, whose son was killed in the war, called out: "You are a disgrace to your office and our country."

Another told the former prime minister: "You've had years."

Rose Gentle was among those who called out during the hearing. Her son, Fusilier Gordon Gentle, died in Basra in 2004. He was 19.

"It is six years too late," she said after Mr Blair's remarks. "I would have liked him to stand up and say he made a mistake."

Source - Yahoo.