No charges over death of journalist

Head of the counter-terrorism division Sue Hemming said it was not possible to say who fired the fatal shot which killed the reporter in Iraq in March 2003.

An inquest recorded a verdict of unlawful killing in October 2006, and Ms Hemming said forensic evidence indicated Lloyd was injured by shots from Iraqi forces and then by American bullets.

Ms Hemming said: "There is insufficient evidence at the current time to establish to the criminal standard the identity of the person who fired the bullet that killed Mr Lloyd.

"There is also insufficient evidence in relation to the chain of command to establish if there was any person responsible for the chain of events that led to the death of Mr Lloyd.

"I understand that this will be very upsetting news for the family and friends of Mr Lloyd but I can reassure them that every care was taken in pursuing lines of inquiry and reviewing the evidence."

If the CPS had decided there was available evidence, it could have considered bringing a prosecution under the Geneva Convention.

Mr Lloyd was in a four-man ITN team which also included French cameraman Fred Nerac, Belgian cameraman Daniel Demoustier and interpreter-driver Hussein Osman.

Only Mr Demoustier survived.

They were in two cars heading towards Basra because they heard reports - which later proved unfounded - that an Iraqi armoured brigade had surrended.