Former diplomat Sir Jeremy Greenstock has admitted the government got it wrong on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Sir Jeremy, who was ambassador to the UN during the build up to the war, told the BBC yesterday: "We were wrong on the stockpiles, we were right about the intentions."

His comments came amid reports that Lord Butler's review of intelligence on Iraq could criticise top officials.

Responding to the reports, Commons leader Peter Hain said the government "will not be party to any kind of witch hunt against anybody".

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Wilmshurst, the senior Foreign Office lawyer who resigned after ministers ignored her advice that the war in Iraq was illegal tells the Independent that the alleged abuse of prisoners "could amount to war crimes".