<br/>Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is to be called to give evidence to an inquiry into the Iraq war six years after he controversially backed the US-led invasion. Mr Blair will be among senior figures from the ruling Labour Party to go before the independent inquiry early next year, just months before Britain's next general election in June, which the party is tipped to lose.<br/><br/> Sir John Chilcot, a former civil servant who heads the inquiry, said the first five weeks of public sessions, starting on November 24, would hear from senior officials and military officers. Families of soldiers killed in Iraq have already warned they intend to confront Blair at the hearings over his support as premier for the war.<br/><br/> Mr Blair, who has vowed to cooperate "fully" with the probe, faced intense public hostility after backing then US president George W. Bush in the 2003 invasion to topple Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.<br/><br/> His resulting unpopularity was one of the main factors, which led to him quitting in 2007. His successor Gordon Brown announced the probe in June, honouring a pledge to hold one after British troops had pulled out of Iraq.<br/> The inquiry will examine the circumstances leading up to Britain's decision under Blair to support the invasion, and its aftermath.<br/><br/> The probe will seek access to government records and will also hear from the families of the 179 British troops who died in Iraq.<br/><br/> Mr Blair and government ministers will be called in January and early February. The inquiry's report will not be published until the end of 2010, or even 2011.