Most Britons Favor Iraq Inquiry

LONDON — A majority of Britons want an independent inquiry into prewar intelligence cited by Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government to justify backing the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, polls showed today.

Two surveys, published in The Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Times, showed 61% and 54%, respectively, of respondents favored an investigation of evidence of Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction.

“The war was justified, but it is of utmost importance that we try to find out what went wrong with the intelligence,” said Conservative Party leader Michael Howard, who told the Telegraph he would urge an inquiry.