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/world/8135931.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK agrees new Basra death probe | UK agrees new Basra death probe |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| A group of Iraqis have won a legal battle to hold a new investigation into claims UK troops tortured and killed 20 people after a gun battle in Basra. | |
| The defence secretary has agreed there is a need for the investigation into the 2004 events, the High Court heard. | |
| Lawyers for the six Iraqis produced medical evidence they said backed the need for an independent public inquiry. | Lawyers for the six Iraqis produced medical evidence they said backed the need for an independent public inquiry. |
| The government had said the dead were killed during a gun battle and that military police had investigated. | The government had said the dead were killed during a gun battle and that military police had investigated. |
| The Ministry of Defence denies wrongdoing by soldiers. | The Ministry of Defence denies wrongdoing by soldiers. |
| [The secretary of state is proposing] an investigation of the murder of Iraqi detainees... and specific allegations by five Iraq nationals of ill-treatment Clive Lewis, QC for UK government | |
| It was alleged Iraqi civilians were detained following "the battle of Danny Boy" - a fire fight between British soldiers and Iraqi insurgents near the town of Al Majar-al-Kabir, in Maysan Province, on 14 May 2004. | It was alleged Iraqi civilians were detained following "the battle of Danny Boy" - a fire fight between British soldiers and Iraqi insurgents near the town of Al Majar-al-Kabir, in Maysan Province, on 14 May 2004. |
| But lawyers for the Iraqis produced evidence in court they said supported allegations the captives were taken to British base Camp Abu Naji, where they were tortured, murdered, and their bodies mutilated. | But lawyers for the Iraqis produced evidence in court they said supported allegations the captives were taken to British base Camp Abu Naji, where they were tortured, murdered, and their bodies mutilated. |
| Five of the six applicants allege they were themselves mistreated by British forces after being caught up in the fire fight and detained. | |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth conceded at the High Court there was insufficient information for judges to be able to make a fully-informed decision on the allegations, so a separate investigation was needed. | |
| Clive Lewis QC, for the government, said the secretary of state "profoundly regretted" a failure to make documents available to the court in good time. | Clive Lewis QC, for the government, said the secretary of state "profoundly regretted" a failure to make documents available to the court in good time. |
| The secretary of state was therefore proposing "an investigation of the murder of Iraqi detainees at Camp Abu Naji in Southern Iraq on the night of May 14-15 2004 and specific allegations by five Iraq nationals of ill-treatment," he said. | The secretary of state was therefore proposing "an investigation of the murder of Iraqi detainees at Camp Abu Naji in Southern Iraq on the night of May 14-15 2004 and specific allegations by five Iraq nationals of ill-treatment," he said. |