THE father of a soldier murdered in Iraq says the battle to bring his son's killers to justice looks "less and less likely" to succeed.

A court in Baghdad has refused to overturn an earlier decision to acquit two men accused of killing six Red Caps in June 2003.

Lance Corporal Ben Hyde, 23, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, Corporal Simon Miller, 21, from Washington and Corporal Paul Long, 24, of South Shields, were among those who died when a police station they were guarding, in Majar al-Kabir, was overwhelmed by a 400-strong mob.

A total of 11 arrest warrants were issued following the outrage, but only two men - Hamza Hateer and Mussa Ismael al Fartusi - ever stood accused of killing the six members of the Royal Military Police.

A top judge acquitted the pair, saying there was insufficient evidence for a trial.

L Cpl Hyde's father, John Hyde, said: "Obviously, we would like to get a result, but the longer it goes on, the less and less likely it becomes.

"It is difficult to have strong feelings about the case, because it has been going on for so long and you end up with very little faith that the Iraqi justice system will achieve anything.

"This case could take another ten years."

Cpl Miller's father, John, has vowed to lodge a final bid for justice with the support of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

He said: "There's still not a day I don't think about my son and I will never let this rest until I have justice for him.

"I won't just forget about it with time, that's not how it works."

The others victims were Sergeant Simon Hamilton-Jewell, 41, from Surrey, Corporal Russell Aston, 30, from Derbyshire and Lance Corporal Tom Keys, 20, from North Wales.

An MoD spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with the families of the six soldiers, whose wait for justice continues.

"The UK Government remains committed to obtaining justice for the six soldiers who died and will continue to support the Iraqi authorities, through our embassy in Baghdad."