British officers given immunity

LONDON, June 15 (UPI) -- The British government says it will protect commanding officers in Afghanistan from private prosecution for any decision leading to a soldier's death.

After three appellate court judges concluded the Human Rights Act covers troops on the battlefield, the Defense Ministry assured commanding officers it would take responsibility.

"They have all been told that the (Defense Ministry) would take full responsibility in any future legal challenge, so there is no question of an individual member of the armed forces being named and taken to court," an unnamed defense official said.

The ministry contended in court the act applied only when soldiers were on property controlled by the United Kingdom, but that argument was rejected by the court. The ministry is contemplating an appeal to the House of Lords, The Times of London reported Monday.

The case arose from a lawsuit filed by the mother of a soldier who died of heatstroke in Iraq in 2003.