Home>News Center>World
         
 

Blair apologizes for abuses in Iraq
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-10 09:59

British Prime Minister Tony Blair apologized Sunday for any abuses committed by British soldiers in Iraq, and said those responsible would be punished.


Iraqi Khayrullah al-Kinzawi, 65, shows the media pictures of the sores and tears on his hands that he suffered while jailed last year, soon after the American invasion of Iraq, during a press conference by human rights groups in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday May 9, 2004. At the press conference numerous former prisoners came forward to tell of abuse -beatings by soldiers, sleep deprivation - in accounts that resembled those found by U.S. investigators at the notorious prison. [AP Photo] 

As the government acknowledged it had known for months about claims that its troops abused Iraqi prisoners, lawmakers called for the publication of an International Committee of the Red Cross report detailing many of the allegations. Human rights group Amnesty International said it told British officials about reports of violence and torture a year ago.

"We apologize deeply to anyone who has been mistreated by any of our soldiers," Blair told French television during a visit to Paris. "That is absolutely and totally unacceptable. Those who are responsible for this, if they have behaved in this appalling way, they will be punished according to the army discipline and rules."

However, he added, "The activities of a few people who have brought shame to their situation should not detract from the work done by the vast majority."

Amnesty says it has been documenting "patterns of torture" by coalition troops in Iraq for more than a year.

The human rights group said Sunday it first warned the government last May that prisoners had been tortured, and at least one killed, in British custody. The group said it had held a series of meetings with Foreign Office and defense ministry officials over the past year.

"They said they would look into it and get back to us," said Amnesty's Middle East spokeswoman, Nicole Choueiry. "Since then, they did not get back to us."

The Ministry of Defense could not confirm when it was first told of the allegations. But a spokeswoman said the ministry had been "investigating cases of alleged abuse since way back into last year."

The ministry is investigating 33 cases in all, she said.

The Red Cross also has said it warned American officials of prisoner abuse in Iraq more than a year ago.

On Saturday, Blair's office said it had been shown the Red Cross report in February. Officials would not discuss its contents.

"I find it intolerable that all we know about this report is what has actually leaked in Washington," former foreign secretary Robin Cook told the British Broadcasting Corp. "Breakfast with Frost" program.

Cook, who resigned from Blair's Cabinet last year to protest the war in Iraq, said publishing the report was the only way to "see what independent people are saying about the problem and how severe it is."

Cook's call for publication was supported by Conservative Party co-chairman Liam Fox and Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Sir Menzies Campbell.

"Only total transparency and swift investigation will provide answers," Campbell said. "It is not only the integrity of the army which is at stake but the safety of those serving in Iraq."

 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

Xi'an lottery row takes another twist

 

   
 

Wen leaves Italy, arrives in London

 

   
 

`Cancer village' in spotlight

 

   
 

Rebel bomb kills Chechen leader, 13 others

 

   
 

Researcher: Sweat may transmit SARS virus

 

   
 

Consumption up during long holiday

 

   
  Rebel bomb kills Chechen leader, 13 others
   
  Britain's Hoon in firing line over abuse allegations
   
  Sharon cancels US trip, will submit new Gaza plan
   
  Britain's Blair faces call for resignation
   
  Brazil calls NY Times alcohol story 'slander'
   
  First GI faces court-martial over Iraq abuse
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Britain's Hoon in firing line over abuse allegations
   
Britain's Blair faces call for resignation
   
First GI faces court-martial over Iraq abuse
   
More bad news may be on the way for Bush
   
Iraqis die in Basra clashes
  News Talk  
  Scandal over humiliation of Iraqi prisoners  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 一级做a爰片久久毛片| 国产精品女上位在线观看| 乱人伦xxxx国语对白| 韩国一区二区三区| 好大好猛好深好爽视频| 亚洲校园春色另类激情| 美女范冰冰hdxxxx| 在线中文字幕一区| 久久精品国产99国产精品| 精品久久久久久中文字幕| 在线观看亚洲一区二区| 亚洲av日韩av无码污污网站| 翁止熄痒禁伦短文合集免费视频| 国产精品91视频| 中文字幕一区二区三区日韩精品 | 久久精品这里有| 成人午夜视频网站| 亚洲欧美日韩一区在线观看| 破处视频在线观看| 国产成人免费a在线资源| 一级毛片恃级毛片直播| 新婚之夜性史观看| 亚洲综合第一区| 色老头成人免费综合视频| 天天干天天爽天天操| 亚洲六月丁香婷婷综合| 污污视频网站免费| 免费a级毛片在线播放| 精品国产丝袜自在线拍国| 国产精品99久久久精品无码| 99精品热视频| 天天操天天射天天插| 久久综合色88| 玩物无删减版180分钟| 哒哒哒免费视频观看在线www| 99久久精品久久久久久清纯| 无码精品a∨在线观看中文| 久久综合图区亚洲综合图区| 欧美国产日本高清不卡| 亚洲护士毛茸茸| 综合欧美亚洲日本|