Media Guardian

By Leigh Holmwood

26 October 2006

The prime minister, Tony Blair, yesterday refused to comment on whether the attorney general would push for the extradition of the American soldiers found to have unlawfully killed ITN reporter Terry Lloyd in Iraq.

The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell ,asked Mr Blair during prime minister's questions whether the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, would make an application for the extradition and trial in Britain of the un-named soldiers. Assistant deputy coroner for Oxfordshire, Andrew Walker, who ruled two weeks ago that Mr Lloyd had been unlawfully killed by American troops in Iraq in March 2003, said he would write to the attorney general "to see whether any steps can be taken to bring the perpetrators responsible for this to justice".

The prime minister said it was not his place to comment on the legal implications of any case.

"For very obvious reasons, I think that it would be wrong for me to comment on anything that the attorney general may do in relation to that case," he said.

"Once again, however, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to Mr Lloyd's family."

Sir Menzies replied: "Not much comfort there, I think."

ITN has said it will support any move to bring "those responsible for Terry's death to account before a court of law".