Scotland Yard is to investigate the death of Shipley soldier Sergeant Steve Roberts.

Sgt Roberts, 33, was the first British soldier to die in combat in the Iraq war when he was killed in 'friendly fire' trying to quell a riot in March 2003.

The investigation has been ordered by the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, following an MoD inquiry.

His widow Samantha Roberts, of Shipley, confirmed the investigation was under way and that she would be interviewed by senior police officers at some stage.

"I am not able to comment any further about the investigation for legal reasons," said Mrs Roberts, who has campaigned relentlessly to find out the truth about her husband's death.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "The Metropolitan Police are investigating the deaths of two men on March 24, 2003 at the request of the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith. The investigation concerns the deaths of British soldier Steven Roberts and an Iraqi Zahir Zabti Zaher, aged 32."

Sgt Roberts, a Desert Rats tank commander with the 2nd Tank Regiment, was shot in the chest during a riot in Al Zubayr, near Basra, just three days after the conflict began.

At the time Sgt Roberts was trying to fend off an Iraqi who attacked him with pieces of rock. It is believed he could have been killed by friendly fire.

"The circumstances surrounding their deaths form part of the current investigation and as such cannot be discussed in any further detail," said the spokesman from Scotland Yard.

The investigation is being carried out by the specialist crime directorate, which deals with high profile and unusual cases.

No arrests have been made.

In later investigations it emerged that Sgt Roberts had not been wearing the appropriate body armour that might have saved his life, and that he had been ordered to give his armour to a colleague because of an equipment shortage.

The T&A reported on February 7, that the MoD had accepted liability for the death of Sgt Roberts, 33.

Geraldine McCool, Mrs Roberts's lawyer, is due to meet with MoD Lawyers to discuss compensation being paid to the families of other soldiers who died in Iraq.