Britain begins Iraq inquiry

Britain was to begin a long-awaited inquiry in London Thursday into mistakes made before and during the Iraq war.

The independent inquiry is expected to look into the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, the 2003 invasion of Iraq and problems with post-war reconstruction.

Current and former British ministers, such as ex-prime minister Tony Blair as well asforeign officials, including U.S. government staff, may be called to testify before the inquiry.

Sir John Chilcott, a former senior civil servant who will head the yearlong inquiry, was meeting with his team Thursday to decide on guidelines governing it.

The British military formally ended combat operations in Iraq onApril 30after six years by handing over control of its main base in Basra to an American brigade.