ALLEGATIONS of unlawful killings of civilians, including children, and cover-ups by the British military in Afghanistan are “extremely serious” and law-breakers should be referred to authorities, the chairman of an independent inquiry demanded today.

Lord Justice Haddon-Cave said the “reputation of the armed forces and the country” is at stake, stressing that his probe, set to consider the activity of the armed forces in the central Asian state between 2010 and 2013, will “get to the bottom” of the claims.

The senior presiding judge for England and Wales said the inquiry — launched by Tory Defence Secretary Ben Wallace following legal challenges by Leigh Day solicitors on behalf of the Saifullah and Noorzai families — is equally important to “have the cloud of suspicion lifted” from innocent parties.