Storm over video of troops beating Iraqi teenagers
AFP
February 13, 2006
LONDON: Britain's Ministry of Defence has ordered an urgent investigation into a video that appears to show British troops ruthlessly bashing and kicking teenagers in Iraq.
Details of the video, in which a group of young Iraqis are seen being attacked by soldiers, were published yesterday in Britain's best-selling Sunday newspaper, The News of the World.
It said the scenes were filmed by a corporal, who can be heard encouraging his colleagues -- described by the mass-circulation tabloid as "a rogue squad of British soldiers" -- in a running commentary.
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said the report was being taken "extremely seriously".
"We are aware of these very serious allegations and can confirm they are now the subject of an urgent Royal Military Police investigation," she said.
"We condemn all acts of abuse and brutality, and always treat any allegations of wrongdoing extremely seriously.
"Over 80,000 servicemen and women from the British armed forces have served in Iraq since military operations began. Only a tiny minority are alleged to have been involved in incidents of deliberate abuse."
The paper said the video showed the troops dragging four young protesters off a street and into an army compound where they were punched, kicked and hit with batons.
On the video, the cameraman could be heard laughing and saying: "Oh yes! Oh yes! You're gonna get it. Yes, naughty little boys. You little f..kers, you little f..kers. Die. Ha ha."
The videotape -- thought to have been made in 2004 during street riots in southern Iraq, where British forces are concentrated -- is said to show a minute's recording of the attack, with 42 blows counted.
The tabloid said the tape was shown at the troops' home base in Europe before being handed over by a whistleblower. The footage also shows a soldier kicking the body of a dead Iraqi in the face. The paper did not identify the regiment involved.
The allegations are certain to renew controversy over the conduct of US, British and allied forces in Iraq since the US-led invasion in March 2003 that overthrew Saddam Hussein.
In February last year, three British soldiers were jailed and dismissed from the army in disgrace for their roles in a scandal over prisoner abuse at a camp in southern Iraq.
In 2004, the Daily Mirror newspaper in London published a series of photographs appearing to show British soldiers abusing Iraqi detainees. The images were later revealed to be fakes.
Link Here
February 13, 2006
LONDON: Britain's Ministry of Defence has ordered an urgent investigation into a video that appears to show British troops ruthlessly bashing and kicking teenagers in Iraq.
Details of the video, in which a group of young Iraqis are seen being attacked by soldiers, were published yesterday in Britain's best-selling Sunday newspaper, The News of the World.
It said the scenes were filmed by a corporal, who can be heard encouraging his colleagues -- described by the mass-circulation tabloid as "a rogue squad of British soldiers" -- in a running commentary.
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said the report was being taken "extremely seriously".
"We are aware of these very serious allegations and can confirm they are now the subject of an urgent Royal Military Police investigation," she said.
"We condemn all acts of abuse and brutality, and always treat any allegations of wrongdoing extremely seriously.
"Over 80,000 servicemen and women from the British armed forces have served in Iraq since military operations began. Only a tiny minority are alleged to have been involved in incidents of deliberate abuse."
The paper said the video showed the troops dragging four young protesters off a street and into an army compound where they were punched, kicked and hit with batons.
On the video, the cameraman could be heard laughing and saying: "Oh yes! Oh yes! You're gonna get it. Yes, naughty little boys. You little f..kers, you little f..kers. Die. Ha ha."
The videotape -- thought to have been made in 2004 during street riots in southern Iraq, where British forces are concentrated -- is said to show a minute's recording of the attack, with 42 blows counted.
The tabloid said the tape was shown at the troops' home base in Europe before being handed over by a whistleblower. The footage also shows a soldier kicking the body of a dead Iraqi in the face. The paper did not identify the regiment involved.
The allegations are certain to renew controversy over the conduct of US, British and allied forces in Iraq since the US-led invasion in March 2003 that overthrew Saddam Hussein.
In February last year, three British soldiers were jailed and dismissed from the army in disgrace for their roles in a scandal over prisoner abuse at a camp in southern Iraq.
In 2004, the Daily Mirror newspaper in London published a series of photographs appearing to show British soldiers abusing Iraqi detainees. The images were later revealed to be fakes.
Link Here
posted by Kangaroo Brisbane Australia at 3:28 PM
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