THE Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been asked to consider charges over an alleged unlawful killing in Iraq involving British soldiers.

The Attorney General made the request on Thursday following consultation with the Army Prosecuting Authority.

A spokesman said: "The Attorney General, following consultation with the Army Prosecuting Authority (APA) and the Crown Prosecution Service, asked the CPS on September 23 to consider whether charges should be brought in a case involving a number of British soldiers.

"The case concerns an alleged unlawful killing in Iraq."

No further details of the soldiers involved, or when and where the killing was said to have taken place, were available.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said she could not comment because the case was sub judice.

The Attorney General's office said seven other cases were being considered by the APA.

These could be referred for a civilian prosecution or a court martial, or it could be decided there was no evidence to bring charges.

Thursday's case was the second to be referred to the CPS, while two have been referred for court martial.

The previous case to be referred to civilian authorities was that of a 21-year-old soldier who was charged with the murder of a civilian in Iraq.

Hassan Abbad Said, also known as Hassan Abdul Said, was believed to have been shot while being arrested in the British zone of southern Iraq in August last year. Little is known about the incident in which he died.

Detectives from Scotland Yard were asked to investigate the case in May this year.