A High Court judge in London has today ordered an urgent hearing of a landmark challenge by 13 Iraqi families over the Government's refusal to order independent inquiries into alleged killings by British soldiers.
Mr Justice Collins ruled there was "an arguable case" which should go to a full hearing by the end of July.
The families are challenging Defence Secretary Mr Geoff Hoon's "failure to conduct independent inquiries into the deaths" and accept liability, saying it amounts to a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The issue the High Court has to decide is whether the ECHR extends outside Europe to British troops serving in southern Iraq.
If the court decides that it does, the ruling will pave the way for the families, who live in the Basra area, to claim compensation from the government.
The judge said: "The way things are going in Iraq, it seems to me in everyone's interest that this point of principle is decided as soon as possible."
The move was not opposed by the British government.