'UK soldiers abused inmates'

2005-08-16 12:54

London - Former Iraqi prisoners claimed in a BBC programme to be broadcast on Tuesday that British troops abused and humiliated them in the aftermath of the United States-led invasion in March 2003.

The fresh allegations fuelled suspicion that the army was following a policy of "systematic abuse and torture" when dealing with Iraqi detainees.

Two brothers, Marhab and As'ad Zaaj-al-Saghir, alleged they were beaten with sticks and denied water and slept after being arrested in Basra, Iraq, after the invasion. One said a soldier urinated on his head.

BBC's Newsnight said the accounts were similar to numerous other claims made in a confidential report by the international committee of the Red Cross.

'Inmate lost consciousness'

Marhab Zaaj-al-Saghir said: "They lowered me down ... while I was tied up, threw me on the floor and hit me with a stick.

"You couldn't draw breath afterwards and I lost consciousness.

"I thought they would throw water over us, but he got his penis out and urinated on my head."

Zaaj-al-Saghir said that he and his brother were held in an internment camp. "If I'd had a weapon I'd have killed myself."

The brothers had not made any official complaint and their accounts were confused.

The only corroboration of what they said were forms issued a month later by the US Army, showing they were eventually released from a camp in Umm Qasr, Iraq, without charge.

'Systematic abuse and torture'

Human rights lawyer Phil Shiner, who was acting for dozens of Iraqis who had made claims against the British Army, condemned the alleged abuses.

He said: "I think there is fairly clear evidence that there is a policy within the British Army in Iraq of systematic abuse and torture."

The ministry of defence said it had investigated 177 complaints against British troops.

The ministry highlighted its "robust system for investigating incidents involving the death, injury or alleged ill-treatment of civilians on operations".

A spokesperson also said allegations could not be investigated unless they were reported. She said anyone with evidence should come forward so it could be looked into.

Seven soldiers were last month charged over the death of an Iraqi hotel receptionist who died in British custody in Basra, six months after the invasion.

- AFP