Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende has bowed to increasing political pressure and set up an independent commission to investigate the Dutch government’s support for the US invasion of Iraq, reports the AD newspaper website, quoting national news agency ANP.

The announcement was made at a specially convened press conference in The Hague, the paper says. The inquiry will be led by former High Court judge Willibrord Davids.
There has been growing speculation about events leading up to the Dutch decision to give political support to the US action in Iraq.
Last week a former US deputy secretary for state said his government had asked the Dutch administration for military aid and offered incentives.
Until now Balkenende, who was also prime minister at the time, has strongly opposed to a public inquiry into the affair.