The British Army Chief of General Staff, General Sir Michael Jackson, may be forced to cancel his appearance at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry because of war in the Gulf.
The then Captain Michael Jackson was adjutant to Colonel Derek Wilford on the day paratroopers under his command shot dead 13 civil rights marchers in Derry. A 14th man died later.
A spokesman for the Bloody Sunday Inquiry confirmed Sir Michael was due to give his evidence on Monday.
"It is a date that was set some time ago. We offered him and his legal team that date and they accepted it," said the spokesman. "But because of what is going on in the Gulf he may have to cancel at short notice".
Sir Michael is one of the key military witnesses due to testify at the Saville Inquiry into the events on January 30th, 1972.
Sir Michael is based in London with an overseeing role in the war effort in Iraq.
His superior officer in Derry at the time, Col Derek Wilford, who sent paratroopers into the nationalist Bogside area, is giving evidence on day 316 of the inquiry at Methodist Central Hall in London.