Anti-war protesters stage demo against Blair
Protesters demonstrate outside the QE2 centre in central London as former British prime minister Tony Blair gives evidence at the Iraq war Inquiry yesterday. Blair began giving evidence to the public inquiry into the Iraq war on Friday, starting an eagerly awaited day of questioning into his account of the conflict. Photo: AFP
Anti-war protesters accused former British prime minister Tony Blair of being a "coward" Friday after reports that he was driven into the building hosting the Iraq war inquiry through a side entrance.
Blair, due to make his long-awaited appearance at the inquiry to account for his decision to take British troops into the 2003 conflict, did not enter the central London conference centre through the front exit, reporters said.
A motorcade swept into a side entrance of the building at 0730 GMT, two hours before Blair was due to give evidence, although there was no immediate confirmation that Blair was in one of the vehicles.
Hundreds of demonstrators outside the Queen Elizabeth II centre chanted "Tony Blair, War Criminal" as police lines held them behind crash barriers.
Activists said they were convinced Blair had given them the slip.
Lindsey German, convener of the Stop The War Coalition, said: "He doesn't have the decency or honesty to face up to the public, military families, and Iraqis who will be here today in huge numbers to show their opposition to the war."
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