Probe into David Kelly's death starts Friday

[Nambe]

LONDON (AP)

An investigation into the suicide of weapons adviser David Kelly will hold its first preliminary hearing on Friday, the government said today. Lord Hutton, an appeals judge, is examining the circumstances leading to the death earlier this month of Kelly, who was at the centre of a bitter dispute between the government and the British Broadcasting Corp. ---

Friday's hearing will set out how Hutton intends to conduct the inquiry. It will then be adjourned until after Kelly's funeral, which "will not take place for some time," the Department for Constitutional Affairs said in a statement. Hutton will also hear applications from interested parties, expected to include the government and the BBC. ---

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