Mother: Iraq agony could be for nothing

The mother of a soldier killed in Iraq reacted with anger to the revelation that the war inquiry will take place behind closed doors, warning "all this agony could be for nothing".

Glaswegian Rose Gentle, who launched a lengthy campaign against the UK's presence in Iraq since her son Gordon, 19, was killed in 2004, said she will continue to lobby Government in a bid to fight the decision for the process to be held in private.

Ms Gentle's son was killed in Basra after a roadside bomb was detonated while he was on patrol.

Speaking after Gordon Brown's announcement in the House of Commons, she said: "We have fought and fought for this but it will be no use and it could all be for nothing behind closed doors.

"We will be lobbying parliament to make sure this is all transparent."

Ms Gentle insisted "there was no reason" national security would be compromised by the inquiry being held in public.

But she added: "We respect the security concerns that may arise - we are not anti-war in general.

"My family and most of the families who lost loved ones just want a simple answer to a simple question - why did we go in to Iraq in the first place?"