Norgrove case a 'personal priority', says Nato chief

The commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan pledged last night to make the investigation into the death of the British aid worker Linda Norgrove a personal priority.

General David Petraeus discussed the case of the slain relief volunteer with David Cameron during talks at Downing Street about the Afghan war, the Prime Minister's office said. Their meeting came after the body of Ms Norgrove, 36, was repatriated on a military flight to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "Linda's family has asked for privacy. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."

It emerged earlier this week that Ms Norgrove may have been killed by a grenade detonated by US special forces as they tried to free her from Taliban kidnappers. Speaking after yesterday's meeting, the Prime Minister's spokesman said Mr Cameron had raised Ms Norgrove's case.

"General Petraeus said the investigation was a personal priority for him and emphasised that there would be full co-operation between the US and UK," the aide said. The two men agreed operations in Kandahar and Helmand province were "proceeding well".

The spokesman added: "General Petraeus thanked the Prime Minister for the ongoing British commitment to Afghanistan and for the valued contribution made by British troops, civilians and equipment."