The Welsh government's coronavirus pandemic review will not have statutory powers to compel witnesses to give evidence, the first minister has confirmed.

Campaigners representing families who lost loved ones to Covid-19 have warned they will not take part in a review unable to require witnesses to give evidence under oath, something Plaid Cymru promised before entering government.

Rhun ap Iorwerth told S4C's Y Byd yn ei Le programme the review "does not have the same powers as a full inquiry".

Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru co-lead Catherine Griffiths previously said a review without those powers would be a "waste of public money".

The Plaid Cymru government announced it would hold an independent review of the previous Labour administration's handling of the pandemic on Wednesday, but did not give further details.

Labour had refused to launch its own inquiry while in government, and had argued decisions made in Wales during the pandemic should be examined by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

Wales' Health Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor previously stated his party would hold an inquiry that would see witnesses compelled to give evidence under oath.

Two months before Plaid Cymru won May's Senedd election, he said Plaid was committed to holding a "short and precise inquiry" in areas not "adequately" covered by the UK-wide inquiry.

But he said it would have a "clear remit and timescale" and would not be a full public inquiry like the one for the UK.

"The expectation with a public inquiry is that it is an open-ended process with unlimited resources and time," he added.

Griffiths, whose 86-year-old father died after contracting Covid in a care home, said on Thursday she was "not happy at all" with what the Welsh government had proposed.

"They're very, very different beasts, a review and a statutory inquiry," she said.

"I think it would be a waste of public money.

"To establish what happened, identify responsibility and make recommendations, the inquiry needs to be statutory.

"Otherwise, it's an ad hoc arrangement. No-one is obliged to provide evidence.

"We would be unable to engage in a review as a group."

Asked whether Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru was correct that the review would not have the same powers as a public inquiry, ap Iorwerth said: "Yes, because a public inquiry has specific powers.

"I, having been a health spokesperson for years, an opposition leader, and now first minister, have been very consistent in what we are trying to do.

"We were asking for an inquiry at the beginning, then the UK inquiry came along.

"What I have been consistent on is finding answers about what happened in Wales.

"That is what we are looking to do, and that is what is important, not which model to follow."

Responding to claims Plaid Cymru had broken a promise made in opposition, ap Iorwerth said: "We are doing exactly what we said we would do, which is to construct a plan to find answers.

"And while it is correct that there is a difference between what a statutory enquiry and a review can do, we are clear that we would expect witnesses to be called forward."

On whether the review would go ahead without the group's involvement, the first minister said: "This review is happening and, of course, I hope the families will take part because ever since starting as health spokesperson I have worked very closely with them and I am sure that I am looking for the same answers they are looking for."