Why you take the UK to war against Iraq? Mr. Blair. Public inquiry in UK

Tony Blair is set to mount a spirited defense when he is questioned in public for the first time about his decision to take the UK to war against Iraq.

He will be questioned at the Iraq war inquiry for six hours on the build-up to the 2003 invasion and its aftermath.

Controversial government dossiers justifying action will be discussed.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the ex-PM was expected to say Saddam Hussein had the “capacity and intent” to build weapons of mass destruction.

Mr Blair is expected to remind observers that he was backed by his government and the opposition and will insist that they were not wrong to do so.

Families of some of the 179 British soldiers killed in Iraq are expected to take part in an anti-war demonstration outside the inquiry building in central London calling for Mr Blair to be considered a war criminal.