FAMILIES of the Royal Military Policemen killed by an Iraqi mob have welcomed an "honest" report into their deaths - but called for those responsible to be made accountable.

The six Red Caps, all from 156 Provost Company, were manning a small police station in the town of Al Majar Al Kabir 120 miles north of Basra on June 24 last year, helping to restore order in the area.

It is believed they were ambushed and attacked by an angry crowd loyal to Saddam Hussein.

An Army board of inquiry last night reported its conclusions, finding no conclusive evidence that their deaths could have been prevented.

But the inquiry uncovered a catalogue of failings and errors in the run up to the incident.

The board expressed "serious concern" over the way the Red Caps had been operating in the region. It disclosed that RMP patrols in the area were routinely sent out without the proper allocation of ammunition and no means of communicating with their base.

The board made a series of recommendations to improve communications, command and control and the issuing of equipment on operations.

The attack killed Lance-Corporal Benjamin John Hyde, 23, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, Corporal Simon Miller, 21, from Washington, Tyne & Wear and Corporal Paul Long, 24, of South Shields.

The others who died were Sergeant Simon Alexander Hamilton-Jewell, 41, of Surrey, Corporal Russell Aston, 30, of Derbyshire and Lance-Corporal Thomas Richard Keys, 20, from Wales.

The report disclosed that the possibility of disciplinary action against certain individuals had been considered, but following legal scrutiny, it had been decided that no action should be taken.

At a Press conference in London, Gemma Long, 23, wife of Cpl Long was critical of the Army command.

She said: "There was an attack two days before with stones, so that was quite a big thing, and then obviously two days later the people in charge of the six lads just said 'Hey' ... Why did they send them back in? We wouldn't be here if they hadn't."

L Cpl Keys's father Reg Keys, who earlier said he feared the report would be a white wash, said: "Accountability is all the families want."

The six-strong RMP patrol, led by Sergeant Simon Hamilton-Jewell, had planned to visit the town's police station on June 24.

The Section C RMP patrol had not taken out satellite phones in an area where communication by normal radio was very difficult.

The patrol checked out with their own operations desk, three hours after a Para patrol had left heading towards the area but it had no idea the RMP were due to be in the same area.

When a gunfight started between the Paras and an angry Iraqi mob, the RMP were in a police station nearby and as the Paras withdrew they passed within 200 metres of the RMP patrol, but were oblivious to their location.

It was then he RMP became involved in the gun battle but because they had no satellite phone or working radio they were unable to alert anyone.

The Battle Group Operations Room had no idea if the RMP patrol had even reached the town and the officers were only carrying one-third of the ammunition they were supposed to.

Officials said when the Para patrol called for back up, the rescue Chinook helicopter initially went to the wrong place

The board blamed the confused command relationships for much of the uncertainty that arose. When RMP sections tried to raise concerns about what was going on they were "not taken seriously", the board said.

John Miller, whose son Cpl Miller died, said the RMP patrol had been posted to a highly dangerous area. "We put those lads right in the front line," he said.

Mr Miller said he feared for his other son, who is also in the RMP, and who is due to be posted to Iraq next year.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said: "I recognise that nothing can relieve the pain of loss, but I hope that the findings of the Board of Inquiry will give the families a much better understanding of the events leading up to the deaths of their loved ones."

The families of the dead men tried to be upbeat about the ongoing murder investigation in Iraq.

John Hyde, father of L Cpl Hyde, said progress was being made. "The central Criminal Court in Iraq has asked for the assistance of a military lawyer in the case for prosecution, which must be a positive step," he said.