Senior U.S. Military official confirms detainee abuse by Iraqi security forces

Iraqi Troop Abuse

(Mosul, Iraq-AP, July 1, 2005 11:05 AM) _ A senior American military official -- apparently for the first time -- is publicly confirming the abuse of detainees and prisoners at the hands of Iraqi security forces.

Major General David Rodriguez, the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in the area around Mosul, says that in the "last six to eight weeks" there have been approximately "40 or so" cases of abuse.

Rodriguez says U.S. troops have been instructed to intervene immediately when they see physical mistreatment occur. And he says Iraqi troops are being trained more intensively so that their treatment of prisoners conforms "with standards of conduct and discipline in accordance with the internationally accepted rules of law."

Rodriguez says all of the cases of abuse that he is familiar with involve physical mistreatment at the time of arrest or mistreatment during interrogations. He says he is not aware of any deaths connected to the abuse.

Back in January, Human Rights Watch released a report alleging detainee abuse at the hands of Iraqi security forces.

http://www.wtnh.com/global/story.asp?s=3546236&ClientType=Printable