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| Wounded Iraqi is given £2m payout | Wounded Iraqi is given £2m payout |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| An Iraqi teenager accidentally shot by a British soldier is to receive £2m, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. | An Iraqi teenager accidentally shot by a British soldier is to receive £2m, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. |
| The man - who cannot be named for legal reasons - will receive the payout after suffering severe spinal injuries which have left him paralysed. | The man - who cannot be named for legal reasons - will receive the payout after suffering severe spinal injuries which have left him paralysed. |
| The compensation is higher than anything paid to any British troops injured in Iraq. | The compensation is higher than anything paid to any British troops injured in Iraq. |
| The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the payout was "not a precedent, it is an exceptional case". | The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the payout was "not a precedent, it is an exceptional case". |
| The man was wounded in September 2003 when a British soldier, whom he had befriended, accidentally dropped his gun, making the weapon go off. | The man was wounded in September 2003 when a British soldier, whom he had befriended, accidentally dropped his gun, making the weapon go off. |
| The Iraqi, who was aged 13 at the time of the accident, later moved to the UK where he began legal action through the British courts. | The Iraqi, who was aged 13 at the time of the accident, later moved to the UK where he began legal action through the British courts. |
| The government claims that this is a completely unique case, but it is very difficult to believe that that is the case Vince CableLib Dem treasury spokesman | |
| The final settlement is dependent on a further High Court hearing. | The final settlement is dependent on a further High Court hearing. |
| The size of the fee is likely to re-open the controversy over the compensation levels for wounded service personnel. | The size of the fee is likely to re-open the controversy over the compensation levels for wounded service personnel. |
| There are concerns that the case could set a precedent, and pave the way for further large compensation claims by Iraqis against the British government. | There are concerns that the case could set a precedent, and pave the way for further large compensation claims by Iraqis against the British government. |
| 'Considerable costs' | 'Considerable costs' |
| But the MoD said the case was a one-off and the sum awarded covered his care for life. | But the MoD said the case was a one-off and the sum awarded covered his care for life. |
| "It is not expected that there are any other cases of such severity," a spokesman said. | "It is not expected that there are any other cases of such severity," a spokesman said. |
| The MoD also rejected comparisons with the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for injured British troops, which offers individuals a maximum lump sum payment of £285,000. | |
| Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Vince Cable said other Iraqis may now try to take legal action through the UK courts. | Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Vince Cable said other Iraqis may now try to take legal action through the UK courts. |
| "The government claims that this is a completely unique case, but it is very difficult to believe that that is the case," he told Channel 4 News. | "The government claims that this is a completely unique case, but it is very difficult to believe that that is the case," he told Channel 4 News. |
| "If Iraqis were able to get access to British courts, they would clearly be entitled to much higher levels of compensation, based on this precedent. | "If Iraqis were able to get access to British courts, they would clearly be entitled to much higher levels of compensation, based on this precedent. |
| "The costs of that could be very, very considerable indeed, adding to all the other costs of the Iraq war." | "The costs of that could be very, very considerable indeed, adding to all the other costs of the Iraq war." |