Prime Minister Tony Blair faces his biggest test yesterday as he takes the stand at an inquiry into the death of a British weapons expert who became entangled in a furious row over the Iraq war.

With his personal trust ratings plunging, Blair will become only the second prime minister to appear before a judicial inquiry. The prospect of the premier?s day in court attracted scores of Britons to the Royal Courts of Justice in London in the hope of obtaining one of the few public seats available.

Many had already been queuing for hours by early yesterday and some had even set up roadside tents for the long haul. Blair has faced a crisis of public confidence since weapons expert David Kelly killed himself after being named as the source for a journalist?s report that said politicians hyped intelligence to justify an unpopular war against Iraq.

Blair has mainly stayed silent while the inquiry has been running. In his few comments, he has denied blame for dragging Kelly into the public eye. ?My starting point is that I believe we?ve acted properly throughout,? he told reporters during a trip to Asia last month. ?I did not authorise the leaking of the name of David Kelly.?

But details of Blair?s personal involvement in the scientist?s exposure have slowly emerged.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told the inquiry on Wednesday that a decision to have Kelly testify in parliament days before he killed himself was taken with Blair?s approval.

The public has been anxious to hear Blair?s side of the story. ?It?s the one occasion where he can?t hide behind spin and quotes, but this time he really has to sustain his argument and I?m not sure whether he?ll crack or not ? I?d like to see whether that happens,? said a man in the queue. A woman nearby added: ?It?s historic. It?s democracy in the making.?

Anti-war protesters brandished placards outside the court, styling Blair as a ?most wanted? criminal and ?B.Liar?.

Kelly was found dead last month after being revealed as the suspected source behind a BBC reporter?s claim that the government hyped its September 2002 dossier on Iraqi weapons to strengthen the case for a war most Britons opposed.

Kelly?s death, and the failure after the war to find any Iraqi weapons of mass destruction to back up warnings in the dossier, have sent Blair?s trust ratings plummeting.

An opinion poll this week showed 67 percent of those questioned thought his government had deceived the public.