Iraq weapons expert Dr David Kellyeerily predicted his death six months ago, telling a Britishdiplomat that if Baghdad was attacked he would be found "dead inthe woods", the inquiry into his death revealed today.
The diplomat recounted the premonition at the probe into thesuicide of Dr Kelly, who was sucked into the heart of a row overwhether Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair's inner circle hyped evidenceabout Iraq's weapons capability to win support for the war.
Mr Blair, facing the worst crisis of his six-year rule, is dueto testify at the hearing next week and the inquiry is expectedto finish taking evidence late next month, judge Lord Huttonannounced today.
Former UN arms inspector Dr Kelly, who slashed his wrist inwoodlands near his home last month, told diplomat Mr David Broucherin February he advised Iraqi officials that if they cooperatedwith weapons inspectors "they would have nothing to fear".
"The implication was if the invasion went ahead, that wouldmake him a liar and he would have betrayed his contacts, some ofwhom might be killed as a result of his actions," Mr Broucher toldthe inquiry.
Mr Broucher said he asked what would happen if Iraq wasattacked despite Dr Kelly's assurances. "His reply was, which Itook to be a throwaway remark: 'I will be found dead in thewoods.'"
Earlier, the inquiry heard how British Defence Secretary Mr Geoff Hoon tried to stop parliamentarians quizzing scientist Dr David Kelly over the Iraq dossier outlining the case for war with Iraq.
Mr Donald Anderson, chairman of the foreign affairs selectcommittee, said Mr Hoon approved Dr Kelly's questioning only if he was not asked his views on Baghdad's weapons of mass destruction programmes or the government's Iraq dossier.
Mr Anderson told the inquiry into Dr Kelly's death that Mr Hoon wanted his committee, which was trying to clarify whether Dr Kelly was the BBC source, not to ask "wider questions of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the preparation of the dossier".