Former UN weapons inspector and ex-head of MI5 to appear as witnesses at Chilcot inquiry to discuss intelligence over WMDs

The former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix and ex-MI5 director general Lady Manningham-Buller have been called before the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war.

Also among the 35 new witnesses to be questioned in July, made public in a list today, are the former deputy prime minister John Prescott, ex-defence secretary Bob Ainsworth and two previous heads of the army, General Sir Mike Jackson and General Sir Richard Dannatt.

The review, chaired by Sir John Chilcot, is investigating Britain's role in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and also its post-war involvement up until July 2009. The review broke up on 8 March for the election.

Since then, it has been analysing evidence it has received, including information concerning areas not covered in previous hearings, and has also visited France and the US, according to its website.

Hearings will resume on 29 June and continue to 30 July at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre in Westminster.

Blix will be questioned in relation to his role as the first executive chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, from 2000 to 2003.

Manningham-Buller will be called to give evidence in relation to her role as head of MI5 until her retirement in 2007.The new list of witnesses also includes the former UK ambassador to Iran, Sir Richard Dalton, former chief secretary to the Treasury Lord Boateng; former minister for international development Sally Keeble and the former diplomat Carne Ross, who quit the Foreign Office in 2004 after serving as the Middle East specialist in the UK mission to the UN.

"The inquiry will add further, new (mainly military and official) witnesses to this initial list shortly," its website said.

"It is likely that the inquiry will hold another round of public hearings in the autumn to cover new subjects, provide new evidence, or revisit issues with previous witnesses, if required." Chilcot aims to deliver his report at the end of 2010.

Gordon Brown spent three and a half hours giving evidence in March. His predecessor, Tony Blair, appeared before the inquiry in January.