Gordon Brown defends Iraq war but mourns victims

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Friday gave a staunch defence of the government's decision to invade Iraq in 2003 but also paid his respects to the many military and civilian victims of the conflict, DPA reported.

"It was the right decision for the right reasons," Brown told the Iraq War Inquiry in London at the start of a four-hour hearing.

But he also said he wanted to pay his respects to the "soldiers and members of the armed forces" for the sacrifices they had made and made a point of mentioning the "huge loss of life" among Iraqi civilians.

"My thoughts are with their families," said Brown, referring specifically to the "thousands of civilian fatalities" and the "many civilian injured" in Iraq.

"Any loss of life is something that makes us very sad indeed," said Brown.

Outside, a protestor shouted: "Gordon Brown to The Hague," in a reference to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Dutch capital.

The hearing, which takes place just weeks ahead of a general election in Britain, is expected to throw some light on Brown's role in the decision-making process and financing of the war.

Brown, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer for the duration of the conflict, has said he has "nothing to hide" - while keeping a remarkable public silence on the issue.

A string of former armed forces chiefs Friday accused Brown in newspaper articles of being responsible for a grave loss of life among soldiers who they claimed were not adequately equipped because of spending cuts introduced by Brown.

Last month, former prime minister Tony Blair, who was in power when the Iraq decisions were taken, defended his actions and refused to offer any sign of regret or sympathy to relatives of victims, some of whom were sitting right behind him at the hearing.