LONDON, Sept 4: Britain’s case for invasion of Iraq is “in tatters” following evidence from a British former defence official to the inquiry into the suicide of weapons expert David Kelly, London newspapers said on Thursday.

Brian Jones, a former official from the Ministry of Defence’s secretive intelligence wing, testified Wednesday that British intelligence officials were worried that a government dossier on Iraq’s weapons ahead of war was exaggerated and that “significant” concerns were ignored.

Prime Minister “Tony Blair’s case for invading Iraq was in tatters” after Jones’ “damning” evidence, The Independent said Thursday.

“The case for war looks flimsier than ever — and so does Mr Blair’s defence” headlined the broadsheet’s editorial.

“The whistleblower,” headlined The Guardian above a picture of Jones, who testified that there had been fears that some statements in a September 2002 dossier about Iraq’s ability to produce chemical weapons had been too strong.

“The charge could not have been more serious,” said the Daily Mirror tabloid, adding that Jones’ evidence was the “most devastating” yet heard at the judicial inquiry, now nearing the end of its fourth week.

“Shot to pieces — Intelligence chiefs blow apart Downing Street claims that Iraq dossier wasn’t ‘sexed up’,” headlined the Daily Mail tabloid, a fierce opponent of Blair’s Labour government.

Also describing the government’s case for war as being “in tatters”, it added: “Our country is mired in a dangerous and expensive commitment (in Iraq), with not a sign of an exit strategy.

“And still there is no satisfactory explanation as to why this government ever led us to war.” —AFP