UK government votes for full disclosure on Hillsborough disaster

Britain's parliament has voted to release all government documents relating to the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster, in which 96 soccer fans were crushed to death.

As many as 300,000 documents are expected to be released, including uncensored minutes of cabinet meetings, the Guardian reports. The papers will be handed over first to an independent investigative panel and to families of the victims, before being made public.

MPs agreed to make the disclosure after what the Telegraph describes as an emotional debate on Monday night, held in response to a petition that attracted 140,000 signatures.

Home Secretary Theresa May said:

"As a government we fully support the Hillsborough independent panel and the process the panel is leading to disclose the documents telling the whole story. No government papers will be withheld from the panel, no attempts to suppress publication will be made, no stone left unturned."

For years the British government has been accused of covering up police mistakes in their handling of the disaster. An earlier request to release official documents was denied, reports the Daily Mail.

Ninety-six Liverpool football fans died and more than 200 were injured as supporters tried to enter the crowded Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield before a semifinal match on 15 April 1989.

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The government at the time was strongly criticized for seeking to blame allegedly drunken fans for storming the stadium.

Opening the House of Commons debate, Labour MP Steve Rotheram said:

"Misdirection, obfuscation and damned lies were all used as smokescreens to deflect attention away from the guilty."

On behalf of the victims, Rotheram has demanded a formal apology from Prime Minister David Cameron, reports the BBC.