[JURIST] British families of soldiers killed in Iraq petitioned the UK High Court Thursday for permission to launch a legal challenge against the government's refusal to hold an independent inquiry into the country's involvement in the Iraq war. Their group, Military Families Against the War [advocacy website], which called for an inquiry [JURIST report] in May, argues that the refusal violates article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights [text] requiring that a proper, adequate investigation be conducted when lives are lost. A lawyer for the families said in a hearing Thursday that an investigation was necessary unless the war in Iraq was found to be legal under international and domestic law. Earlier this year, the families filed suit against UK Prime Minister Tony Blair for war crimes [JURIST report] in the International Criminal Court [official website]. Blair has said it is not necessary to go "back over this ground again and again" since the inquiry has already been denied. From the UK, the Guardian has local coverage.