Chilcot says he understands 'anguish' over Iraq inquiry delay but determined for it to be 'fair'

The chairman of the long-delayed Iraq inquiry has said he understands "the anguish of the families of those who lost their lives in the conflict" - but has not given a timetable for the publication of his report.

He said since the inquiry started in 2009, it has heard 130 sessions of witness evidence and received more than 150,000 documents.

In a statement, he said it "became apparent the report would have to be very long and would take a considerable time to produce".

Sir John said the inquiry has been guided by a number of key principles including independence, impartiality and openness.

But Roger Bacon, whose son Major Matthew Bacon was killed in Iraq in 2005, said he was "disappointed" Sir John has not revealed when he will publish the Iraq report.

"I'm not sure he is able to understand our anguish," he said.

Reg Keys, whose son Lance Corporal Tom Keys was killed in Iraq in 2003, said families are "extremely frustrated with the endless delay".

He added: "My wife died two years ago, she didn't know the findings of this report. How many other families and loved ones will we lose without finding the results?"

Video report courtesy of Political Correspondent Libby Wiener

Mr Keys said both he and other families had run out of patience and are threatening legal action if a time frame for completion of the report is not announced by the end of the year.

Sir John said the inquiry had responded to lawyers acting for some families, who had threatened to launch legal action.

He said: "I can confirm that, after careful thought, we have responded to the points they raised. I don't intend to comment on the substance of that response and such letters are not normally published."

Sir John added the Inquiry expected to soon receive the last responses from those criticised in the report, the so-called 'Maxwellisation' process.

He released his statement soon after Clare Short, Labour's international development secretary at the time of the war, said the report was not being held up by the Maxwellisation process.

Ms Short said all of those criticised had to reply to the inquiry within a deadline of a few weeks, which passed "a long time ago", and claimed Sir John was probably having to redraft the report as the current version is "very poor".

But in his statement, Sir John contradicted this saying that he expects to receive the last responses to the Maxwellisation letters shortly.