Blair distances himself in Kelly row

The onus is falling back on the government to provide answers as to how Dr David Kelly was outed as a possible source for a BBC report claiming that the government had 'sexed up' intelligence in their February dossier.

Today it was Tony Blair's turn to distance himself from suggestions that he had allowed Dr Kelly's name to be leaked to the press.

The Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon had been parrying allegations that it was he who was responsible for Dr Kelly's identification. Not least those contained in the Financial Times today which heaped further pressure on the minister claiming that he had personally intervened to out Dr Kelly.

It has been reported elsewhere today that two unnamed members of the 11-member BBC board of governors had broken ranks and questioned the policy of backing journalist Andrew Gilligan's report.

The pair have reportedly expressed concerns over Dr Kelly's own testimony to the Foreign Affairs Select committee in which he stated that he did not recognise Mr Gilligan's story from the conversations they shared together.

Elsewhere, the UN body set up to monitor the elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction has mourned the death of Dr David Kelly, a key former staff member involved in the arms probe.

Dr Kelly was well known for his "professionalism and for the respect that his colleagues had for him”, the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) said in a statement released in New York.

Dr Kelly had worked extensively for UNMOVIC's predecessor, the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), from 1991 to 1998, including serving as Chief Inspector in Iraq on many occasions.

In August, 1991, he led the first UNSCOM bioweapons inspection team in the country, inspecting the facility Salman Pak.

UNMOVIC extended its “deepest sympathies” to members of his family.

(GmcG)