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Amnesty says British soldiers killed unarmed Iraqi civilians
London, May 11: British soldiers have fired on and killed Iraqi civilians, including an eight-year-old girl, in situations where there was apparently no serious threat and in many cases the British Army has not even investigated the incidents, human rights group amnesty international said in a report published today.
London, May 11: British soldiers have fired on and killed Iraqi civilians, including an eight-year-old girl, in situations where there was apparently no serious threat and in
many cases the British Army has not even investigated the incidents, human rights group amnesty international said in a report published today.
"UK soldiers have opened fire and killed civilians in southern Iraq in circumstances where there was apparently no imminent threat of death or serious injury to themselves or
others," the report said.
"In many cases where civilians have been killed by UK forces the British Army has not even opened an investigation.”
"Where investigations have been opened, the (British) Royal Military Police, which is responsible for conducting the investigations, has been highly secretive. It has provided (the victims') families with little or no information about the progress or conclusions of investigations."
The amnesty report, which is likely to add to the furore over the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners by the British and US forces occupying Iraq, said British soldiers were implicated in the killings of 37 Iraqi civilians since combat operations were officially declared over on May 1, 2003.
Amnesty cited the case of eight-year-old Hanan Saleh Matroud, who was fatally shot in the stomach in Karmat Ali on August 21, 2003 while soldiers from company b of the 1st battalion of the kings' regiment were patrolling the town.
Bureau Report
"In many cases where civilians have been killed by UK forces the British Army has not even opened an investigation.”
"Where investigations have been opened, the (British) Royal Military Police, which is responsible for conducting the investigations, has been highly secretive. It has provided (the victims') families with little or no information about the progress or conclusions of investigations."
The amnesty report, which is likely to add to the furore over the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners by the British and US forces occupying Iraq, said British soldiers were implicated in the killings of 37 Iraqi civilians since combat operations were officially declared over on May 1, 2003.
Amnesty cited the case of eight-year-old Hanan Saleh Matroud, who was fatally shot in the stomach in Karmat Ali on August 21, 2003 while soldiers from company b of the 1st battalion of the kings' regiment were patrolling the town.
Bureau Report