Investigations dropped into 57 unlawful killing claims involving Iraq veterans

Investigations into nearly 60 allegations of unlawful killing against soldiers who served in Iraq have been dropped, officials have confirmed.

The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat) has decided not to proceed in 57 cases, the Ministry of Defence said.

A further case was stopped by the military's service prosecuting authority.

David Cameron has promised to crack down on ''spurious'' legal claims made against troops who served in the Iraq War.

Conservative MP Richard Benyon, a member of the Commons Defence select committee, said innocent veterans were enduring an "intolerable burden".

He told The Sun: "It's an intolerable burden for people who have served their country well to face this knowing they're innocent."

Ministers on the National Security Council have been tasked with drawing up a plan to ''stamp out'' what the Prime Minister described as an ''industry'' trying to profit from servicemen.

Measures could include curbing the use of ''no win, no fee'' arrangements and strengthening the authorities' investigative powers.

Other proposals are set to include speeding up a planned residence test for legal aid cases which will require claimants to have lived in the UK for 12 months.

Law firms which are found to have abused the system could also face tougher penalties under the measures being considered.