Hoon to face Hutton again

Geoff Hoon was today hurled into the front line of the Hutton Inquiry as it was announced that he is to be recalled - and crossexamined by no fewer than four sets of lawyers over his role in the case of Dr David Kelly.

In a move that brought relief to Downing Street, it was revealed that Tony Blair is not to be summoned back. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has escaped questioning altogether.

But as the second stage of the inquiry into the death of the weapons scientist began, it was made clear that those who are recalled - including the Prime Minister's communications boss Alastair Campbell, intelligence chief John Scarlett and BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan - face a much tougher and more dangerous interrogation.

Mr Hoon will be cross-examined by counsel for the Kelly family, for the BBC, for the Hutton Inquiry and by the Government's own advocate, Robin Tam.

His appearance as the only minister to face a second and more intensive round of questioning fuelled the belief that the Defence Secretary is the most likely government casualty when Lord Hutton gives his verdict.

Mr Campbell, who appears next Monday on the same day as Mr Hoon, faces a similar grilling.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman, Tom Kelly, will be questioned by the counsel for Dr Kelly's family, Jeremy Gompertz QC, in a session that looks certain to examine the spokesman's suggestion, in a conversation with a journalist, that the weapons scientist might have been a "Walter Mitty character".

The inquiry's counsel, James Dingemans, opening the second stage today, made clear that all witnesses will be expected to answer head on any criticisms or charges made over their conduct.

He also delivered an extraordinary warning that anyone attemptingto dodge or stall would be held in the witness box until they answered.

That message was immediately seen by many as aimed squarely at the Defence Secretary, who was much criticised after his first appearance for failing to give straight answers

A time limit would be set, Mr Dingemans said, on cross examination by each counsel. But if it appeared that anyone was, in cricketing terms, "playing for lunch and not providing speedy and accurate answers" the session could be extended.

Mr Dingemans revealed that each of the main players has been sent a private letter detailing the main criticisms levelled against them and asking if they will accept or deny them.

He ended his opening statement with an appeal for good conduct declaring: "While stage two is necessary, it is hoped these proceedings-will continue to attempt to be fair, courteous, but still designed to elicit the truth. It is partly by our dealings with each other, whatever the circumstances may be, that we define ourselves."

With careers and reputations at stake, few were betting on that appeal being heeded. The reputations of Downing Street, the Ministry of Defence and the intelligence services are all at stake, as is that of the BBC.

The chairman of the corporation's governors, Gavyn Davies, is also on the list of those who have been recalled.

Mr Dingemans reaffirmed Lord Hutton's warning not to assume that everyone called back was being criticised. That belief, he said, "may be ill-founded".

But he went on to deliver a formidable list of questions the inquiry is determined to answer.

Meanwhile, BBC director-general Greg Dyke was today being quizzed on the corporation's battle with No10. Mr Dyke is expected to be questioned over the BBC's staunch support for Andrew Gilligan, who claimed Downing Street "sexed up" the Government's Iraq weapons dossier.

He could also be asked about Gilligan's emails to an MP on the Foreign Affairs Committee, suggesting questions to be put to Dr Kelly at his appearance three days before his death.

Lord Hutton was also hearing evidence from Air Marshal Sir Joe French, head of the Defence Intelligence Service at the time the government's dossier was drafted.

The air marshal also had a seat on the Joint Intelligence Committee, which considered which information should be included in the dossier.