Powell reaches out to Europe over Iraq amid new abuse scandal
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BAGHDAD - US Secretary of State Colin Powell pressed Europe to overcome its differences on the 2003 US-led invasion and rebuild Iraq, as the Pentagon revealed that elite US troops abused Iraqi prisoners with stun guns. snip
In Washington, the Pentagon revealed that four US special forces soldiers have been punished for unauthorised use of Taser electric stun guns on prisoners, after further allegations of US prisoner abuse were investigated.
Original revelations of humiliation and degradation meted out to Iraqi prisoners in US custody, which surfaced earlier this year, caused outrage across the world, not least among European opponents of the invasion.
The latest probe was conducted after Defense Intelligence Agency interrogators reported seeing prisoners with burns and bruises being brought to a temporary detention centre by members of a top secret special Task Force. snip
“Four individuals received administrative punishments for excessive use of force -- it in particular was emphasized it was the unauthorized use of Tasers,” said Pentagon spokesman Lawrence DiRita.
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