LONDON (Reuters):

United States and British officials denied trying to hide the details of a friendly fire incident yesterday after a classified cockpit video was leaked showing U.S. pilots mistakenly killing a British soldier.

Lance Corporal Matty Hull was killed by U.S. friendly fire during the second week of the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. A British coroner's investigation into his death has reignited questions over whether both allies are doing enough to protect their troops from friendly fire deaths.

Coroner Andrew Walker suspended his inquest last week after learning that there was video of the incident that the British Government would not allow Hull's family to see. That video was leaked to the Sun newspaper yesterday.

"I'm going to be sick," one pilot in an A-10 attack jet can be heard saying after he realises he mistakenly opened fire twice on a convoy of light British tanks, killing one soldier later identified as Hull. "We're in jail, dude."

Another pilot is later heard weeping: "I'm dead."

Washington gave the video to British authorities but refused to allow it to be shown in public, saying it might contain security secrets. The British government said it could not release it without U.S. permission.

Geoff Webb, clerk to coroner Walker, told Reuters the video would now become evidence in court.

"The coroner thinks the video is central to the inquest," he said. "Because it is in the public domain it can be used."

Friendly fire has been a burning issue for both countries since the first Gulf War in 1991, when nine British servicemen were killed in a mistaken attack by U.S. aircraft.

Precautions have since been taken - orange panels were fitted to allied vehicles to alert pilots during the 2003 invasion. The pilots on the tape can be heard concluding the panels were "orange rocket launchers" before opening fire.