No US witnesses at British soldier's death inquest (AFP)

No US witnesses at British soldier's death inquest

Mon Mar 12, 3:52 PM ET

LONDON (AFP) - A high-profile coroner's inquest into the death of a British
soldier in a "friendly fire" incident in Iraq resumed Monday, but the United
States declined to send any officials to give evidence.

Despite repeated requests from London, the coroner and the soldier's family,
Washington turned down the chance to send a representative to give its
version of events at the inquest of Lance Corporal Matty Hull.

-snip-

US policy is to send a statement, not witnesses, to such inquests.

Hull died after two US planes opened fire on his tank near Basra in March
2003.

-snip-

It also emerged Monday that the United States has failed to provide a full
version of its investigation into the incident and turned down a request to
give details of their rules of engagement.

-snip-