HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope is demanding that Jack Straw and Tony Blair be dragged before the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee over the run-up to the war in Iraq.

The all-party group has announced a major inquiry into the issue to run alongside Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committees probe into the same issues.

But Hyndburn MP Mr Pope believes that an investigation by the Foreign Affairs Committee -- of which he is a member -- is vital. It holds its hearings in public, whereas the ISC is not a freestanding Commons committee, is appointed by the Prime Minister and sits in private.

Mr Pope said: "This is a very important issue.

"Killer questions have been raised over issues such as whether Saddam Hussain was trying to import nuclear material from Africa and the claim that he would be able to launch biological or chemical weapons within 45 minutes."