Tony Blair is to be called to give evidence to the Iraq War inquiry early next year, it has been confirmed.

The former Prime Minister is among senior Labour figures who will be questioned in public in January and early February.

The chairman of the inquiry said some may be asked to appear again for more detailed sessions, but not until after theGeneral Election which must be held in June at the latest.

Sir John Chilcot's report will not be published until the end of 2010 or into 2011.

But it is thought the appearance of Mr Blair and other ministers could be damaging for Labour ahead of the election.

Relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq have already warned that they plan to confront the ex-PM "face to face" at the hearings.

The first five weeks of public evidence sessions, which will begin on November 24, would hear from senior officials and military officers, Sir John said.

"We will ask them to explain the main decisions and tasks, and their involvement," he said.

"That will give us a clear understanding of how policy developed and was implemented, and what consideration was given to alternative approaches."

Issues such as equipment, personnel, the "key decisions taken and their rationale" and the legal basis for military action will be covered during the first phase of public hearings.

Private sessions and analysis will follow before a further round of public sessions in mid-2010.

"In some cases, those hearings will be used to invite witnesses to discuss issues in more detail than in earlier evidence, or to pursue further lines of inquiry," Sir John said.

The inquiry, which was announced by Gordon Brown in June, will cover the entire eight-year period from the build-up to the war to the withdrawal of British troops.