British troops "tortured" Iraqis: report

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1504&ncid=1504&e=4&u=/afp/20040621/ts_afp/britain_iraq_torture_040621060331

LONDON (AFP) - Iraqis were "tortured" by British troops who killed some 20 in fighting at Al-Majar al-Kebir in the south of the country on May 14, the Guardian reported, citing death certificates drawn up by the town's hospital.


Of 22 certificates issued by hospital director Dr Adel Salid Majid, a copy of which was obtained by the newspaper, seven reported signs of "mutilation" and "torture".


The daily gave details of the cases:


Ahmad al Helfi, a 19-year-old casual labourer, is described as having "several bullet injuries to the body, with blueness of the left eye and a cut-wound by a sharp tool on the right arm. In addition, there are signs of beating and torturing all over the body."


Haider al Lami, 21, also a casual labourer, had "several bullet injuries to the body, with mutilation of genitalia". His penis had been "severed".

more

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. dupe

This post links to the Guardian story:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x635115

[NNN0LHI]

2. The other story appears to be reporting something different

The other is discussing UK troops being accused of mutilating Iraqi bodies after they were dead. This story is about torturing Iraqis while they were alive.

Don

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. No, it's the same story

same doctor, same victims, same doubt from the doctor at Amara hospital. The Yahoo story leaves out some of the detail in the Guardian; only its quote from the spokesman in London in the final paragraph is new.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Might just be the headlines goofing me up? Check out the latest one

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1243712,00.html

First - UK troops accused of mutilating Iraqi bodies

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1504&ncid=1504&e=4&u=/afp/20040621/ts_afp/britain_iraq_torture_040621060331

Second - British troops "tortured" Iraqis: report

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040621/ap_on_re_eu/britain_iraq_bodies&cid=518&ncid=1480

Here is the latest - U.K. to Probe Claims Iraq Bodies Tortured

[apnu]

5. they are trying to "control" the impact.

by changing the headlines in little degrees. That's how the right-wing does things -- in small baby steps.

On a side note: I think one of the right-wing's problems right now is half of the movement got excited by having Chimpy and Tony in power and moved too fast, thereby undermining their work. I think its part of the reason we are seeing the right-wing unravel right before our eyes.

[UpInArms]

6. related article: U.K. to probe claims Iraq bodies tortured

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apeurope_story.asp?category=1103&slug=Britain%20Iraq%20Bodies

LONDON -- The Ministry of Defense said Monday that it would investigate a newspaper's allegations that the bodies of Iraqis killed in a firefight with British soldiers were mutilated and showed signs of torture.

The ministry declined to comment on details of the allegations reported in The Guardian but said the Royal Military Police were examining evidence.

"It is too early to speculate about the outcome of any investigation at this stage," a ministry spokesman said on condition of anonymity.

The Guardian said it had seen 28 death certificates prepared at Majar al Kabir hospital near Amara in southern Iraq after a May 14 gunbattle between British troops and local insurgents.

...more...

further muddying of the waters - now "just the bodies" were tortured. <shrug>