This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7500204.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Iraqis to get £3m in MoD damages Iraqis to get £3m in MoD damages
(about 7 hours later)
The Ministry of Defence has agreed to pay almost £3m in damages to Iraqis who were tortured by UK troops in Basra in 2003, their solicitors say. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has agreed to pay almost £3m in compensation to Iraqis who were tortured by UK troops in Basra in 2003.
Nine Iraqi men who were mistreated and the father of a man beaten to death in custody will share £2.83m in compensation. A total of £2.83m will be paid out after nine Iraqi men were mistreated and another man - Baha Mousa, 26, - was beaten to death in custody.
The payout came after two days of negotiations between lawyers for the group and the MoD. The Iraqis' lawyers and the MoD said they were pleased an amicable deal was reached after negotiations in London.
In March the MoD admitted breaching the human rights of the abused Iraqis.In March the MoD admitted breaching the human rights of the abused Iraqis.
At that time, Defence Secretary Des Browne said the government admitted "substantive breaches" of parts of the European Convention on Human Rights which protect the right to life and prohibit torture. At that time, Defence Secretary Des Browne said the government admitted "substantive breaches" of parts of the European Convention on Human Rights that protect the right to life and prohibit torture.
BBC correspondent Angus Crawford said it was unclear how the compensation would be divided between the 10 men, and the solicitors were pleased that an amicable settlement had been reached. A lawyer for the Iraqis said the group had "been through hell over the last few years.
The Ministry of Defence is yet to comment on the compensation. The payout will be divided between eight men who were mistreated, the family of Mr Mousa and the brother of a tenth man who was mistreated but later died in an unrelated incident.
Court martial The lawyer said the exact division of the compensation would not be disclosed but a "substantial amount" goes to the estate of Mr Mousa, to support his two children and two other people.
One of the men was Baha Mousa, a 26-year-old hotel receptionist was beaten to death in September 2003. A very small minority [of troops in Iraq] committed acts of abuse and we condemn their actions - it is right that compensation has been agreed Ministry of Defence class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6360845.stm">Timeline: Iraqi abuse
He and the other Iraqi men were arrested at a hotel where weapons and suspected bomb-making equipment were found in 2003. Mr Mousa was detained under suspicion of being an insurgent. The Ministry of Defence said the settlement came with an admission of liability by the department as well as an apology.
Mr Mousa, a 26-year-old hotel receptionist, was beaten to death in September 2003.
He and the other Iraqi men were arrested at a hotel where weapons and suspected bomb-making equipment were found. Mr Mousa was detained under suspicion of being an insurgent.
Seven members of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR), now the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, faced the most expensive court martial in British history over the case.Seven members of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR), now the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, faced the most expensive court martial in British history over the case.
Six soldiers were acquitted after the six-month hearing in Bulford, Wiltshire, but a seventh soldier admitted treating Iraqis inhumanely.Six soldiers were acquitted after the six-month hearing in Bulford, Wiltshire, but a seventh soldier admitted treating Iraqis inhumanely.
Cpl Donald Payne was jailed for a year and dismissed from the Army.Cpl Donald Payne was jailed for a year and dismissed from the Army.
Mr Mousa's post-mortem examination showed he suffered asphyxiation and had some 93 injuries to his body. Mr Mousa's post-mortem examination showed he had suffered asphyxiation and had some 93 injuries to his body.
A public inquiry into his death was announced by Mr Browne in May 2008. A public inquiry into his death was announced by Mr Browne in May.
Mr Mousa's father Daoud, speaking in London after the MoD compensation was announced, said: "My son was killed by the British Army through torture and without even questioning him or presenting him with any information about what he was alleged to have done."
'Disgusted'
In response to the compensation agreement, the MoD added: "All but a handful of the more than 120,000 British troops who have served in Iraq have conducted themselves to the highest standards of behaviour, displaying integrity and selfless commitment.
"But this does not excuse that, during 2003 and 2004, a very small minority there committed acts of abuse and we condemn their actions. It is right that compensation has been agreed through mediation."
Our clients have been through hell over the last few years Martyn Day Iraqis' solicitor
The statement said the Army had done much to improve procedures and training since the incident but were "not complacent".
During mediation General Freddie Viggers also apologised to the families for "the appalling behaviour of British soldiers" which had left the Army "disgusted", said law firm Leigh Day & Co.
The firm, which represented the Iraqi group, said the compensation was for the children of Baha Mousa and the pain and suffering caused to the victims "at the hands of the British Army".
Senior partner Martyn Day said: "Our clients have been through hell over the last few years and this settlement will go some way to enabling [them] to have some semblance of a decent future life."
The lead solicitor Sapna Malik said her clients were pleased with the award but there were "serious questions" remaining, including the identities of others involved in the abuse.
"There are also very serious questions about why techniques which were banned by the Heath government back in 1972 came to be being used out in Iraq, such as hooding, stressing, and sleep deprivation."
Back in 2004, an answer to a parliamentary questioned revealed that the Ministry of Defence had paid an undisclosed amount of compensation to the families of three Iraqi civilians allegedly killed by UK troops - but the payouts were not an admission of guilt.