Home>News Center>World
         
 

Britain's Hoon in firing line over abuse allegations
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-10 09:49

Britain's Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon will come under pressure on Monday to explain exactly what and when the government knew about allegations that British troops abused Iraqi prisoners.

Hoon's statement in parliament is likely to be dominated by suggestions his government was alerted to complaints about the treatment of Iraqi detainees in British custody as early as a year ago.

Britain and the United States, the leading occupying powers in Iraq, have been rocked by the abuse scandal that came to light when graphic images were released in their national media of prisoners being humiliated and mistreated.

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Sunday he was sorry for any mistreatment by British soldiers, but stopped short of admitting abuses had taken place.

"We've already made it absolutely clear we apologize deeply to anyone who's been mistreated by any of our soldiers. That is absolutely and totally unacceptable," Blair told France 3 television.

As Britain considers whether to send more soldiers to Iraq to fill a hole left by the pullout of Spanish forces, an opinion poll showed voters supported the withdrawal of all British troops by the end of next month by a majority of two to one.

Fifty-five percent of those polled by NOP for the Independent newspaper called for British troops to be pulled out by June 30, the planned date for the transfer of sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government.

Britain's Mirror newspaper last week printed photographs apparently showing troops urinating on a prisoner and beating him. The authenticity of the pictures has been questioned but The Mirror has since published evidence from a soldier who said he had witnessed savage beatings of Iraqis.

Hoon is likely to face questions as to why a minister told parliament last week he had received no "adverse" reports from any outside body on the treatment of prisoners by British soldiers.

Armed forces minister Adam Ingram's explanation appeared to be undermined after the government said the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had raised concerns with it back in February over the treatment of British-held prisoners.

Human rights group Amnesty International added to the controversy on Sunday, saying it had warned the government last May that Iraqis had been tortured and killed in British custody.

Hoon is unlikely to agree to demands that the full ICRC report should be released after his ministry said it was confidential and that it had acted on the recommendations.

The Ministry of Defense said on Sunday three British soldiers had interrogated prisoners at Abu Ghraib jail near Baghdad from January to April this year, but they "were not aware of any allegations or incidents of abuse."

The ministry also confirmed military police had completed an inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse of Iraqi detainees and made recommendations to the Army Prosecuting Authority, which will decide whether to bring charges.

In a separate case, families of Iraqis are seeking compensation at London's High Court, alleging their relatives were unlawfully killed by British officers.

The row over the abuse allegations has further deflated Blair's efforts to move the political agenda in Britain away from Iraq.

His government has already been rocked by the suicide of Iraq weapons expert David Kelly during a row over the case for going to war. Hoon came under intense pressure during the subsequent inquiry but survived media calls for his resignation.

Blair's popularity has plummeted since the Iraq war, prompting calls for his resignation from within his own party.

 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

Wen leaves Italy, arrives in London

 

   
 

Xi'an lottery row takes another twist

 

   
 

`Cancer village' in spotlight

 

   
 

Rebel bomb kills Chechen leader, 13 others

 

   
 

Researcher: Sweat may transmit SARS virus

 

   
 

Consumption up during long holiday

 

   
  Britain's Hoon in firing line over abuse allegations
   
  Rebel bomb kills Chechen leader, 13 others
   
  Brazil calls NY Times alcohol story 'slander'
   
  Britain's Blair faces call for resignation
   
  Sharon cancels US trip, will submit new Gaza plan
   
  First GI faces court-martial over Iraq abuse
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Britain's Blair faces call for resignation
   
More bad news may be on the way for Bush
   
US general blames abuse on poor leadership
   
US sees tough job to improve Iraq ties
   
Female soldier charged in Iraq abuse case
   
Red Cross says it warned US of abuse
  News Talk  
  Scandal over humiliation of Iraqi prisoners  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 亚洲精品无码国产| 666精品国产精品亚洲| GOGOGO高清在线观看中文版| 18禁止看的免费污网站| 遭绝伦三个老头侵犯波多野结衣| 精品久久人人妻人人做精品 | 胸大的姑娘动漫视频| 热99re久久精品天堂vr| 日韩欧美亚洲国产精品字幕久久久| 小荡货公共厕所| 国产特级毛片aaaaaa高清| 吃奶摸下的激烈免费视频播放 | 成成人看片在线| 娇妻之欲海泛舟白丽交换| 国产精品亚洲欧美大片在线观看 | 国产成人久久777777| 免费一级特黄特色大片在线观看| 性刺激久久久久久久久| 天堂中文www资源在线| 国产免费小视频在线观看| 亚洲武侠欧美自拍校园| 久久久久亚洲av综合波多野结衣| 91精品国产麻豆福利在线| 老师的胸又大又软真好吃| 欧美人与动zooz| 少妇高潮惨叫久久久久久| 国产成人精品久久一区二区三区| 免费的毛片基地| 久久亚洲精品无码观看不卡| 91精品国产自产91精品| 精品日产一区二区三区| 日韩电影免费观看| 天天摸天天摸色综合舒服网| 国产人妖视频一区二区| 亚洲女初尝黑人巨高清| www.五月天婷婷| 色多多成视频人在线观看| 欧美jizz18性欧美| 国产裸体美女永久免费无遮挡| 午夜天堂精品久久久久| 久久精品无码一区二区三区|