The Hindu : International : Blair calls abuse photos "shocking''

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 20, 2005

International

International

Blair calls abuse photos "shocking''

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JAN 19. The British Army has been accused of re-enacting the U.S.-inspired horrors of Abu Ghraib prison after the publication of a series of photographs of its soldiers allegedly torturing and sexually abusing Iraqi civilians.

An embarrassed Prime Minister Tony Blair admitted in the Commons on Wednesday that the photographs were "shocking'' and assured MPs that "everything'' would be done to establish the circumstances in which the alleged incidents took place. Mr. Blair said he shared the widespread "disgust'' caused by the photographs taken in May 2003 in a British-run camp outside Basra.

"We do not tolerate such activities in any shape or form,'' he said but insisted that the "vast majority'' of British soldiers in Iraq had served with "distinction'' and the conduct of a few should not be allowed to overshadow their work.

The chief of army staff Sir Mike Jackson also condemned the alleged abuse by his soldiers but argued that "only a small number'' were said to have been involved. "We condemn utterly all acts of abuse. Where there is evidence of abuse this is investigated immediately.''

Labour as well as Opposition MPs were concerned that the scandal could fuel anger against the occupation forces in Iraq in the run-up to the elections. Commentators said Britain had now lost the high moral ground it had taken about the conduct of its troops vis-à-vis American soldiers when they were accused of Abu Ghraib excesses.

Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the pictures — widely seen across the Arab world — were likely to "increase the danger'' to British troops. The Tory leader Michael Howard said the soldiers, accused of abuse, had brought "shame to our army'' and wanted to know what steps the Government proposed to take to deal with it.

The photographs, produced on Tuesday at a court martial of three British soldiers for allegedly abusing Iraqi civilians in the weeks following the fall of Saddam Hussein, dominated the front pages. The Independent reproduced nine pictures on its front page calling them "A Catalogue of British Abuse'' and The Times led with the headline, "Army's Shame'', over a picture of a soldier standing on a blindfolded and cowering Iraqi. Other images included one depicting two Iraqis being forced to simulate sex.

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