NICOLA Sturgeon will today lead calls for the immediate release of the Chilcot report into the Iraq war when she opens a Holyrood debate on the issue.

The First Minister is expected to receive cross-party backing from the Greens, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives in arguing that the findings of the inquiry, which began in 2009, should be published ahead of May's General Election. Labour will also back the Scottish Government's motion.

Sir John Chilcot has said that there is "no realistic prospect" of the final report, which will examine Britain's involvement in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and its aftermath, being published before the election.

Ms Sturgeon said it was "time for the truth" over events leading up to the war, which she described as a "foreign policy blunder of epic proportions".

"The ongoing delay in publishing the inquiry report is completely unjustifiable and should be revisited as a matter of urgency," she said.

"For as long as the report remains hidden from public view, the suspicion will remain that it is being kept secret because of behind the scenes wrangling about its contents - a suspicion that is only fuelled by the extended delay until after the looming Westminster election. The fact that the report may make deeply uncomfortable reading for some of those involved cannot be allowed to prolong this delay any further."

She added: "Those responsible for leading the UK to war will have to answer for their actions, but only the full publication of the report will allow them to do that."