'Abu Ghraib a crime scene'
2004-06-21 14:19
Baghdad - A military judge on Monday declared Abu Ghraib prison a crime scene and ordered that it not be destroyed - a move US President George W Bush had offered to help remove the stain of torture and abuse from Iraq.
The judge, Col. James Pohl, issued the order during a hearing for Sgt Javal Davis, one of three defendants who appeared in court on Monday. Pohl also refused to move the case from Iraq as Davis' lawyer had requested.
President Bush had offered to tear down Abu Ghraib and build a new prison to eliminate the legacy of torture and abuse which the facility has developed.
Iraqi officials showed no interest in the offer, and interim President Ghazi al-Yawer said destroying the facility would be a needless waste of resources.
- AP