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British defense chief sorry over soldier's death in Iraq

PLA Daily 2004-01-17

LONDON, Jan. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said Friday that he was "extremely sorry" that a British soldier, who had not been equipped with a body armor, was killed in Iraq as pressure on the defense chief to resign mounts.

"Obviously, as I have said to Mrs. Roberts before, I am extremely sorry that Sergeant (Steve) Roberts died. I am extremelysorry that the families of another 55 men are mourning their losses as a result of operations in Iraq," Hoon told the BBC.

Roberts, a 33-year-old tank commander, was shot dead in March during a riot in Iraq's southern city of Basra. He became one of the first British casualties during the US-led war.

According to local reports, Hoon has agreed to meet Roberts' widow, Samantha, early next week, after she released her husband'saudio diary in which Roberts told how he had to hand his armor to another unit because of kit shortages.

A preliminary report by the British Ministry of Defense on the death of Roberts indicated that an armor could have saved his life.

Samantha told the BBC Radio Five Live on Thursday that her husband and other British soldiers in Iraq were "deeply shocked" at the lack of equipment during the US-led war against Iraq. And she asked Hoon to resign.

"He does have blood on his hands, certainly Steve's blood," Samantha told the BBC.

Hoon said, "I am also extremely sorry that Sergeant Roberts didnot have the enhanced body armor. It is something ministers wantedto happen and indeed ministers ensured that 36,000 sets of body armor were sent to theater for that purpose."

Hoon also urged people not to prejudge the inquiry into the case of Roberts, resisting calls for his resignation over Roberts'death.

British opposition Conservative leader Michael Howard said the affair amounted to a "dereliction of duty" by the government and urges Hoon to step down.

The National Audit Office, an independent British government watchdog, said in December that British front-line forces were left without vital kit during the Iraq war due to supply failures.

The British Ministry of Defense also admitted in a document published in December on the lessons to be learned form the Iraq operation that "some shortages of equipment were experienced."