Lance Corporal Keys was a former paratrooper

A father from north Wales whose son was killed by a mob in the war in Iraq is to meet the Armed Forces Minister to get answers about why his son died.

Lance Corporal Thomas Richard Keys, aged 20, from Llanuwchllyn, near Bala, was murdered along with five other Royal Military Policemen when they came under attack in a town about 100 miles from Basra in June.

His father Reg Keys has criticised the army several times since his son's death.

He will be meeting Adam Ingram in the new year.

He and other relatives have accused the army of incompetence for letting the soldiers be in the town of Al Majar al-Kabir without enough weapons or radio equipment.

I can never forgive the army...they were lambs to the slaughter Reg Keys

He also wants to know why Thomas, who had served with the Parachute Regiment, and his colleagues were not rescued when they came under attack.

Mr Keys claims British paratroopers were only 150 metres away when they were killed and were not radioed to go and help them.

He also questions why no forensic search of the area took place after the killings.

Thomas was on a peace-keeping mission to help train a local police force.

The soldiers were trying to defend a police station after a confrontation with local people complaining about the searches and the use of plastic bullets.

'Valley of Death'

It is believed locals thought troops were about to search their homes.

Mr Keys said although he accepted that soldiering was "a risky occupation" he believes a proper risk assessment was not carried out that day.

He said: "I can never forgive the army...Thomas was left to drive with five colleagues into the Valley of Death.

"They were lambs to the slaughter."

The Ministry of Defence said the investigation into the deaths of the six soldiers is continuing and it cannot comment until it has been completed.