British Parliament to debate Iraq in January

British Army troops rush to action after their convoy was struck by a roadside bomb in Basra today

LONDON: The British government has agreed to a full parliamentary debate on the Iraq war in January following pressure from lawmakers.

Jack Straw, leader of the House of Commons, did not specify a date in his announcement on Thursday.

In October, lawmakers debated an opposition motion demanding an inquiry into the war. The government defeated the motion by just 25 votes and, with the situation in Iraq worsening, pressure has been building for a full-scale debate.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, answering questions in the Commons on Wednesday, indicated that the government planned to schedule a debate.

Alan Simpson, of the governing Labour Party, asked Blair "whether he has any plans to visit the House of Commons to lead a debate on the current and deteriorating situation in Iraq, so that the House can exercise the duty of scrutiny that has so far been accorded only to the Americans?"

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

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