THE widow of a soldier killed in Iraq has launched a bitter attack on the British Government.

Sergeant Steven Roberts, an instructor at the Army Foundation College, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was one of the first British soldiers to die in the war.

The 33-year-old tank commander with the Desert Rats was shot while trying to calm rioting at Al Zubayr three days after the war began.

His widow, Samantha, 32, said he had no flak jacket, a faulty pistol and had to pay £1,000 for other equipment.

She said: "The MoD have let him down terribly and all the other men.

"I am sure his death could have been prevented if he had had the right training and equipment."

An inquiry is being held into his death, but Mrs Roberts is furious about how long it could take.

She said: "It infuriates me that we may have to wait for up to three years for a conclusion, and yet with Dr Kelly's death, there is no risk that it may happen again."

The MoD said they were aware of problems with the provision of armoured body-plates, and that was being investigated as well as the death of Sgt Roberts.