Former UK diplomat: British government intentionally exaggerated Iraq weapon claims

LONDON – LONDON (AP) — A former diplomat has told Britain's inquiry into the Iraq war that the U.K. government intentionally exaggerated its assessment of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Carne Ross, who was responsible for the Middle East at the British mission to the U.N. from 1997 to 2002, says neither Britain nor the United States believed Iraq's weapons programs were a "substantial threat" before launching the 2003 invasion.

Ross told the inquiry's panel on Monday that the British government "massaged" nuanced intelligence into more robust statements about Saddam Hussein's capabilities.

The inquiry was organized by the British government to examine the case made for the war and errors in planning for post-conflict reconstruction.