Grandmother's death probed by MoD

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Allegations over the death of an Iraqi grandmother caught in crossfire during a raid on her home will be examined, the Ministry of Defence has said.

One of Sabiha Khudur Talib's sons has claimed British soldiers were involved in "torturing" and "executing" her.

Lawyers for the family have demanded a full inquiry into what happened to Mrs Talib in the November 2006 incident.

The MoD confirmed she was shot by British troops but deny she was murdered or tortured.

The Independent newspaper says documents detailing their findings are to be handed to UK ministers.

'Innocent woman'

Her family say the house was raided in the early hours and they thought their home was being attacked by criminals.

Mrs Talib's son, Karim Gatii Karim Al-Maliki, reportedly fired a Kalashnikov rifle into a ceiling to ward off intruders and was killed when the soldiers fired into the house.

Phil Shiner, of Public Interest Lawyers, told The Independent: "The possibility that British forces in 2006 could have tortured and executed an innocent elderly woman should shock the nation.

"Such an allegation must be immediately independently investigated as a possible murder."

The Royal Military Police will be investigating allegations made by Mr Karim's brother MoD spokesman

The case is one of 47 claims of abuse and torture made by Iraqis represented by Mr Shiner which are being investigated by the MoD.

A spokesman for the MoD said 120,000 British troops served in Iraq and the "vast, vast majority conducted themselves to the highest standards of behaviour."

He said: "A post-incident report from 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment (1PWRR) describes an incident on 15 November 2006 in which soldiers from the unit were conducting an arrest operation when an Iraqi national, Karim Gatii Karim, opened fire on them.

"One British soldier was wounded and Karim Gatii Karim was shot dead. Mr Karim's mother, Sabiha Khudur Talib was regrettably wounded in the crossfire and, despite attempts to save her, she sadly died of her wounds."

The spokesman said she was not tortured by British forces and her body was not dumped by the roadside as has been alleged, but returned to Iraqi authorities.

"The Royal Military Police will be investigating allegations made by Mr Karim's brother and attempting to ascertain exactly where Sabiha Khudur Talib was treated and by whom she was pronounced dead," he said.