Nicola Sturgeon has written to Sir John Chilcot to demand the early publication of his Iraq war investigation.
The First Minister sent the correspondence after it emerged findings would not be revealed before May’s general election.
Prime Minister David Cameron has said there is nothing to suggest Tony Blair or other witnesses to the Iraq Inquiry are trying to delay its publication, although he admitted to being frustrated by the delay.
In her letter, Ms Sturgeon said: “It is increasingly difficult for the public to escape the conclusion that the process is being dragged out to delay publication until after the general election.
“I would therefore urge you in the interests of transparency, accountability and democracy, to reconsider this matter and impose an early deadline that will ensure publication ahead of the general election.”
Mr Cameron insisted there was “no mystery” behind the delay after Sir John told the Prime Minsiter that “very substantial progress” had been made towards completing his six-year probe and agreement reached on what details from notes and conversations between Mr Blair and former US president George Bush will be published.
The hold-up provoked widespread condemnation, with the chair of the Commons foreign affairs select committee revealing Sir John had been summoned to explain the delays in public.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called the hold-up “incomprehensible”, and Ukip leader Nigel Farage said it “smacks of an establishment cover-up”.
Ed Miliband said he too hoped it would be published “as soon as possible” but the Labour leader was accused by Mr Cameron of contributing to the delays by voting against Tory attempts to have an inquiry set up before 2009.