AMERICA: The US air squadron involved in the friendly-fire incident in Iraq that killed British soldier Lance Corporal Matty Hull apologised to his family.

A spokesman for the Idaho National Guard said it was "very sorry this incident happened".

"We're obviously very, very sorry to the family and extend our sympathies to them," Lieutenant Tony Vincelli said.

Prime Minister Tony Blair also said he "deeply regretted" the distress caused to 25-year-old L/Cpl Hull's family by the delay to the inquest into his death.

Oxford coroner Andrew Walker last week adjourned the inquest in frustration at the Government's failure to produce a US cockpit video and recording of the incident.

The US pilots involved in the "friendly fire" attack that killed L/Cpl Hull near Basra in March 2003 were reservists who had never been in action before.

The case has prompted accusations of the Ministry of Defence conspiring with the Americans in a cover-up of the circumstances of the death.

The tape of the incident had been withheld but was leaked to a newspaper, prompting the Americans to agree it could be shown to the coroner.

A transcript of the footage reveals the pilots say on several occasions they can see orange panels on top of the armoured vehicles beneath them.

The panels were used to identify coalition, rather than Iraqi, forces.

But the pilots convinced themselves they were enemy rocket launchers and opened fire.

The MoD initially told L/Cpl Hull's family the previously classified recording did not even exist.

But the US has now confirmed British military officials took part in the 2003 American inquiry which cleared the two pilots of any wrongdoing.