Britain Opens Inquiry
Into Iraq’s 2004 War.
Britain
has opened an inquiry into claims that its soldiers murdered and
abused civilians in southern Iraq in 2004.
Several Iraqis claim they were abused at a base called Camp Abu
Naji in Maysan province after a battle between British troops
and insurgents, and their lawyers say there is evidence up to 20
Iraqis may have been tortured and killed by British soldiers.
Four retired police officers have been assigned to interview
witnesses and gather evidence for the inquiry, which opened on
Tuesday with a preliminary session.
Full hearings are expected to start later in the year.
The inquiry's head, retired High Court judge Thayne Forbes,
warned government officials he would force them to produce
evidence if they did not cooperate fully.
Forbes said that if the co-operation was not forthcoming, the
inquiry will not hesitate to use its compulsory powers in
relation to the production of documents and the attendance of
witnesses to give evidence.
The inquiry will not rule on criminal liability, but will try to
ascertain what happened and make recommendations to stop any
repeat of abuse.
The Ministry of Defense alleged that British soldiers fought
Iraqi insurgents after a convoy was ambushed along the main road
between Baghdad and the southern city of Basra in May 2004.
The military denies abuse and says all the dead were killed in
battle after ambushing British troops.
AP/WILLIAMS/YINKA
