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US 'to release cockpit footage' US 'to release cockpit footage'
(40 minutes later)
The US believes it can make the cockpit video of the "friendly fire" death of a British soldier available to an inquest, Downing Street has said.The US believes it can make the cockpit video of the "friendly fire" death of a British soldier available to an inquest, Downing Street has said.
The tape, obtained by the Sun, is said to show an American aircraft attack on a British convoy in Iraq in 2003.The tape, obtained by the Sun, is said to show an American aircraft attack on a British convoy in Iraq in 2003.
Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berkshire, died in the attack.Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berkshire, died in the attack.
A coroner's official later said he had been told the video - classified secret by the US - would be shown in full to only the coroner and the Hull family.A coroner's official later said he had been told the video - classified secret by the US - would be shown in full to only the coroner and the Hull family.
'Good news''Good news'
The coroner's clerk told the BBC he had been informed that the Americans would allow it to be shown on condition it was seen only by the coroner and the Hull family under supervision by a Ministry of Defence (MoD) official, and that the press were not present. A row over the tape first erupted last week when the coroner, Andrew Walker, launched an attack on the Ministry of Defence for failing to provide a copy to show the court.
It also emerged L/CoH Hull's family had been assured no such tape existed.
The coroner's clerk told the BBC he had been informed on Tuesday that the US would allow it to be shown - but on condition it was seen only by the coroner and the Hull family under supervision by a Ministry of Defence official, and that the press were not present.
We're in jail, dude American pilot on tape Cockpit video transcript Inquest coroner to lose jobWe're in jail, dude American pilot on tape Cockpit video transcript Inquest coroner to lose job
Defence Secretary Des Browne said the American move was "good news". Defence Secretary Des Browne said the move to release the tape was "the right thing to do".
"The release of classified information, even for the closest of allies, is never straightforward, but this is the right thing to do," he said. But Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said he thought the situation had been resolved by the Americans because it was very clear it was already in the public domain.
"I recognise that this must have been distressing for the Hull family, and I'm glad that we have been able to resolve it."
Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said he thought the situation had been resolved by the Americans - rather than by the government - because it was very clear it was already in the public domain.
The Pentagon said no disciplinary action had been taken towards the two American pilots involved in the incident and that there would not be any immediate action to re-evaluate the situation.
It said an official US investigation in 2003 concluded the pilots' actions were not reckless and that they reasonably believed they were engaging an enemy target.
It was not clear if the video material released by the Sun would be declassified, the Pentagon added.
'Only chance'
Before the Downing Street statement, L/CoH Hull's widow Susan said the video was "vital evidence and must be shown" at an inquest.Before the Downing Street statement, L/CoH Hull's widow Susan said the video was "vital evidence and must be shown" at an inquest.
She said: "I welcome the statement issued on behalf of the Assistant Deputy Coroner Mr Andrew Walker indicating that he will show the video in public when the inquest resumes. "The inquest is my one and only chance to hear how and why Matty died," she said.
"It is now well and truly in the public domain. I respect the Coroner's Court and its authority and am pleased that the coroner will be able to use it as part of his inquiries. She added that she would have preferred to hear the evidence from the US pilots themselves, but they could not be compelled to come and had not come voluntarily.
She added: "The inquest is my one and only chance to hear how and why Matty died. I would have preferred to hear the evidence from the US pilots themselves. Audibly upset
"However, they cannot be compelled to come and they have not come voluntarily. The video is therefore vital evidence and must be shown." The attack from the US A-10 "tankbuster" aircraft reportedly killed L/CoH Hull, from the Household Cavalry Regiment, and injured four others near the southern Iraqi city of Basra.
Reacting to the release of the video, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said "these people (the pilots and crew) immediately understood that it was a terrible mistake and they felt immediate remorse for what happened."
Classified material
A row over the tape first erupted last week when Mr Walker launched an attack on the MoD for failing to provide a copy to show the court.
It also emerged L/CoH Hull's family had been assured no such tape existed.
The MoD admitted withholding some classified material but stressed there had been no intention to deceive or mislead.
BBC News security correspondent Frank Gardner said the release of the video had been "deeply embarrassing" to the MoD and the Pentagon.
He said: "This was an error, friendly forces got killed because of mistakes both high and lower down the chain of command."
Assurances given
At the start of the attack in the video obtained by the paper, one pilot notices orange panels on the vehicles and asks whether there could be any friendly units in the area.At the start of the attack in the video obtained by the paper, one pilot notices orange panels on the vehicles and asks whether there could be any friendly units in the area.
His command gives assurances there are no coalition forces in the area.His command gives assurances there are no coalition forces in the area.
Pilots open fire but soon the error is realised and they are informed friendly units were in the area. Pilots open fire but soon the error is realised and they are informed friendly units were in the area - and an air controller says it is reported that one person has been killed and one wounded.
They are told: "Abort your mission. You got a, looks we might have a blue-on-blue situation [a friendly fire incident]." One pilot replies: "Copy. RTB [return to base]."
An air controller on the ground says: "We are getting an initial brief that there was one killed and one wounded, over." A colleague says: "I'm going to be sick."
One pilot replies: "Copy. RTB [return to base]." A colleague says: "I'm going to be sick."
They then talk about the possibility of being jailed for carrying out the attack.They then talk about the possibility of being jailed for carrying out the attack.
The first pilot says: "Did you hear?" His colleague replies: "Yeah, this sucks." "We're in jail, dude," says the first pilot.
"We're in jail, dude," says the first.
The other pilot is audibly upset, saying: "God dammit".The other pilot is audibly upset, saying: "God dammit".
Newspaper leak The Pentagon said no disciplinary action had been taken towards the two American pilots involved in the incident.
The attack from the US A-10 "tankbuster" aircraft reportedly killed L/CoH Hull, from the Household Cavalry Regiment, and injured four others near the southern Iraqi city of Basra. It said an official US investigation in 2003 concluded the pilots' actions were not reckless and that they reasonably believed they were engaging an enemy target.
The Sun released footage to television and radio stations, but did not give other websites permission to use clips. 'Deeply embarrassing'
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the pilots and crew "had immediately understood that it was a terrible mistake and they felt immediate remorse for what happened".
The MoD admitted withholding some classified material but stressed there had been no intention to deceive or mislead.
BBC News security correspondent Frank Gardner said the release of the video had been "deeply embarrassing" to the MoD and the Pentagon.
He said: "This was an error, friendly forces got killed because of mistakes both high and lower down the chain of command."
It is not known who leaked the video to the newspaper, but the US government has suggested it is likely to have been a criminal act.It is not known who leaked the video to the newspaper, but the US government has suggested it is likely to have been a criminal act.