Troops shoot dead civilians who posed no threat

BRITISH forces in Iraq have shot and killed civilians, including an eight-year-old girl, in situations in which they were under no apparent threat, according to an Amnesty International report released yesterday.

The report said “many” cases of killings of civilians by British troops have not been investigated. Inquiries launched by the Royal Military Police have been “secretive”, with families given little or no information about their progress.

Amnesty called for a civilian-led investigation into all killings by British forces, with findings made public.