A former British military chief says the U.S. celebrated too early after invading Iraq and toppling Saddam Hussein's regime. (Jerome Delay/Associated Press)

The United States declared victory in Iraq too soon, a former British military chief said Friday at an ongoing U.K. inquiry.

Lt.-Gen Anthony Pigott, former deputy chief of defence staff, said the U.S. was too celebratory in the immediate aftermath of the invasion.

"Nobody had won anything when the statue came down," Pigott said, referring to the enthusiasm when U.S. Marines tore down a statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad in 2003 in what became one of the iconic images of the American-led invasion.

He added that the reconstruction of Iraq after the invasion was not handled correctly.

Pigott was giving evidence at an inquiry into the period leading up to and after the Iraq war. The war was deeply unpopular in Britain, left 179 British soldiers dead and triggered huge protests.

The inquiry, which is in its second week, is not set up to attribute blame or hold anyone liable for the conflict, but could embarrass officials in the U.S. and Britain who wrongly argued that the war was justified because Iraq had been developing weapons of mass destruction and building close links with al-Qaeda.

Pigott also told the inquiry that Britain wanted to play a major role in Iraq to gain influence with the U.S.

"You buy that on your contribution and your willingness to put — not just boots on the ground — people in danger," he said. "They know you are a serious player."

The inquiry is expected to publish its findings late next year.