5th Anniversary of the Iraq War

2.56.00pm GMT Thu 20th Mar 2008

On the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, Bristol West MP Stephen Williams has called for an independent inquiry into the war. He joined Lib Dem MPs and Peers at an event in Old Palace Yard, opposite the Houses of Parliament. It was revealed that the cost of the war so far to British taxpayers has been £6.5billion. Over a hundred British soldiers and service personnel have lost their lives and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians have been killed.

Stephen Williams said, "I am proud of the fact that my party was united in opposing the war five years ago. There is no doubt that our decision, which was not popular at the time, has been vindicated. Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron owe the British people an apology for their part in voting for this disastrous war. The government must hold an independent inquiry into the events that led to Tony Blair proposing Britain's participation in the biggest foreign policy disaster of the last half century."