Spotlight falls on Hutton inquiry

Lord Hutton is chairing the inquiry into Dr Kelly's death

Viewers across the globe will be tuning in to watch the opening of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

Journalists from the US, Japan, Germany and as far away as Australia are set to pack out Court 73 in London's Royal Courts of Justice to hear Lord Hutton make his opening statements on Friday.

The 72-year-old judge will allow television cameras to broadcast his address, expected to last two hours, which will outline how he plans to run the probe.

He will also give a timetable for the inquiry and may give an indication of who he would like to call.

But the inquiry will then go off air to hear any applications from interested parties, including one request expected from ITN and Sky for the proceedings to be broadcast in their entirety.

Funeral

The inquiry was announced after Dr Kelly's body was found in woods near his Oxfordshire home two weeks ago.

His death came after speculation - later confirmed by the BBC - that he was the source of stories that raised concerns over the way the government presented its case for war with Iraq.

Coroner Nicholas Gardiner said the father-of-three had died from an "incised wound" to the left wrist.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned on 21 July at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court.

Lord Hutton visited Dr Kelly's grieving relatives at the family home in Southmoor, near Faringdon, last Saturday, to explain to them how the inquiry would function. He did not take evidence from them.

Dr Kelly's funeral will be held on 6 August at St Mary's Church in Longworth, about three miles from Southmoor.

A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said that after the initial hearing, Lord Hutton would adjourn the inquiry until after the funeral.

'Legitimate questions'

"The hearing is likely to restart in the week beginning the 11 August," the spokeswoman said.

More than 50 journalists will be seated in the courtroom during Lord Hutton's opening remarks, but so great is the media interest in the event, a further 100 reporters will be listening to the proceedings from a special annexe area.

It is hoped Lord Hutton's findings will be reported before the end of the year.

Tony Blair was forced to fend off questions about the death of Dr Kelly during his final press briefing before he leaves for his family holiday, believed to be in Barbados, later this week.

The prime minister, who said his appetite for power remained "undiminished" despite his recent troubles, said he understood the "very legitimate questions" to be asked over Dr Kelly's death.

Iraq's weapons

But he said it was important to let the inquiry run its course.

Mr Blair, asked about Labour's relations with the BBC after reports that intelligence on Iraq's weapons was exaggerated, said all the government had wanted was to "correct an incorrect story".

Her has said he will do whatever Lord Hutton requires, including cutting short his holiday if needed.

He has already denied authorising the release of Dr Kelly's name as the possible source behind a BBC story that the government had "sexed up" its September dossier on Iraq's weapons.