Britain begins inquiry into claims troops abused and killed Iraq civilians in 2004

Britain begins inquiry into Iraq abuse claims

LONDON — Britain opened an inquiry Tuesday into claims that its soldiers murdered and abused civilians in southern Iraq in 2004, some of the most serious allegations made against British forces over the war and occupation of the country.

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 there.

Four retired police officers have been assigned to interview witnesses and gather evidence for the inquiry, which opened 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.

He said that should “co-operation not be 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 uncle of one of the dead, 19-year-old Hamid Al-Sweady, is suing the Ministry of Defense along with five other Iraqis who say they were laborers who were innocently caught up in the violence.

The military denies abuse and says all the dead were killed in battle after ambushing British troops.

The Ministry of Defense says 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 said the close-quarter fighting — dubbed the battle of Danny Boy after the checkpoint where it took place — left three British troops wounded. Several soldiers have been decorated for bravery in the battle, which included the British army’s first bayonet charge in two decades.

Claims of abuse were first made shortly after the battle. A Royal Military Police investigation found no wrongdoing by British forces.

Britain also is holding an investigation into the death of a hotel receptionist in Basra in 2003 and a separate wide-ranging public inquiry into the divisive war, which left 179 British troops dead before the country’s forces withdrew from Iraq last year.

Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell has announced he is setting up a team to investigate claims of abuse by British troops in Iraq, amid fears the allegations are undermining the reputation of the armed forces.