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Public inquiry into Iraqi's death | Public inquiry into Iraqi's death |
(30 minutes later) | |
A UK public inquiry will be held into the death of Iraqi civilian Baha Mousa, the government has announced. | A UK public inquiry will be held into the death of Iraqi civilian Baha Mousa, the government has announced. |
Mr Mousa died while in British Army detention after being taken into custody in Basra in September 2003. | Mr Mousa died while in British Army detention after being taken into custody in Basra in September 2003. |
Defence Secretary Des Browne told MPs an inquiry "will reassure the public that we are leaving no stone unturned in investigating his tragic death". | Defence Secretary Des Browne told MPs an inquiry "will reassure the public that we are leaving no stone unturned in investigating his tragic death". |
Lawyers for Mr Mousa's relatives said other alleged cases of manslaughter and torture should also be examined. | Lawyers for Mr Mousa's relatives said other alleged cases of manslaughter and torture should also be examined. |
Mr Mousa, a hotel receptionist, died after being taken into custody. | Mr Mousa, a hotel receptionist, died after being taken into custody. |
His post-mortem examination showed he suffered asphyxiation and had some 93 injuries to his body. | His post-mortem examination showed he suffered asphyxiation and had some 93 injuries to his body. |
This was not a case of misjudgement in the heat of battle, or in the heat of the moment. There can be no excuse Gen Sir Richard Dannatt | This was not a case of misjudgement in the heat of battle, or in the heat of the moment. There can be no excuse Gen Sir Richard Dannatt |
Mr Browne, announcing the inquiry, said: "A public inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa is the right thing to do. | Mr Browne, announcing the inquiry, said: "A public inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa is the right thing to do. |
"The Army has nothing to hide in this respect and is keen to learn all the lessons it can from this terrible incident." | "The Army has nothing to hide in this respect and is keen to learn all the lessons it can from this terrible incident." |
Mr Browne also issued a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament, saying that the terms of reference had yet to be set and the Army and Ministry of Defence would co-operate. | Mr Browne also issued a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament, saying that the terms of reference had yet to be set and the Army and Ministry of Defence would co-operate. |
He added: "Overall, the conduct of tens of thousands of our people in Iraq has been exemplary; it is a tiny number who have caused a stain on the reputation of the British Army. | He added: "Overall, the conduct of tens of thousands of our people in Iraq has been exemplary; it is a tiny number who have caused a stain on the reputation of the British Army. |
"But that does not mean we can allow these events to pass without looking into them thoroughly." | "But that does not mean we can allow these events to pass without looking into them thoroughly." |
Court martial | |
Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt said a court martial in 2007, as well as the Aitken Report into training this year had "gone some way to shed light on this disgraceful incident". | Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt said a court martial in 2007, as well as the Aitken Report into training this year had "gone some way to shed light on this disgraceful incident". |
Cpl Donald Payne was jailed for a year in 2007 after pleaded guilty to inhumanely treating civilian detainees in Basra in 2003. | Cpl Donald Payne was jailed for a year in 2007 after pleaded guilty to inhumanely treating civilian detainees in Basra in 2003. |
Six other soldiers were cleared of the alleged abuse of the detainees, who included Mr Mousa. | Six other soldiers were cleared of the alleged abuse of the detainees, who included Mr Mousa. |
"The Army knows that Mr Baha Mousa should have been treated properly and lawfully but he was not," Gen Dannatt said. | "The Army knows that Mr Baha Mousa should have been treated properly and lawfully but he was not," Gen Dannatt said. |
"This was not a case of misjudgement in the heat of battle, or in the heat of the moment. There can be no excuse." | "This was not a case of misjudgement in the heat of battle, or in the heat of the moment. There can be no excuse." |
Solicitor Phil Shiner Mr Shiner, who represents Mr Mousa's family and other Iraqis said to have been mistreated, said a broad inquiry into the British Army's detention policy is necessary. | |
"This would need to get to the bottom of how it came about that the five techniques banned in 1972 - hooding, stressing, food and water deprivation, sleep deprivation and noise - were reintroduced as apparently standard operating procedure for all Battle Groups." |