Poland rejects abuse claims
2004-05-28 20:36
Warsaw - Poland, one of the top US allies in Iraq, rejected allegations on Friday that its troops serving with the US-led occupation forces there had abused prisoners.
"I categorically reject such reports," said army spokesperson Colonel Zdzislaw Gnatowski referring to reports that originated in the United States and were carried by Polish radio stations.
"They are unfair... no more than a desperate attempt to dilute the sense of shame after the incidents in Abu Ghraib prison," he said of the notorious jail outside Baghdad at the centre of the prisoner torture scandal.
US authorities have launched investigations into revelations of physical and sexual abuse of Iraqi inmates by US troops at Abu Ghraib after explicit photographs were published, sparking worldwide condemnation.
One US military guard has already been sentenced to a year in prison, and seven others face court martial.
Gnatowski said that no interrogations had taken place at a detention facility at al-Hilla south of Baghdad under the command of Polish forces serving with the US-led coalition.
"We bring armed people there, terrorists. It is the Americans who decide to let them go or send them to Abu Ghraib" he said.
"The conditions (at the al-Hilla facility) are good, with air conditioning, hot water and three meals per day" he added.
"Coalition officials have never alerted us to any problems at the centre. A recent inspection by Polish military prosecutors didn't find any violations of regulations."
Poland commands a multinational force of 6 200 troops, including 2 400 of its own soldiers in south-central Iraq.