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/middle_east/6458173.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Escape from UK-run prison in Iraq Escape from UK-run prison in Iraq
(30 minutes later)
Eleven detainees have escaped from a British military prison in southern Iraq, the British Army has said.Eleven detainees have escaped from a British military prison in southern Iraq, the British Army has said.
Ten of them had "swapped" places with visitors over the past week, an Army spokesman said.Ten of them had "swapped" places with visitors over the past week, an Army spokesman said.
Their disappearance from the Shuaiba military base, west of the southern city of Basra, was only noticed on Friday.Their disappearance from the Shuaiba military base, west of the southern city of Basra, was only noticed on Friday.
It was not immediately clear when or how the prisoners escaped. The prisoners had been held for two years. It was not immediately clear when or how the prisoners escaped. Some had been held for up to two years.
'Embarrassing incident'
UK military spokesman Major David Gell confirmed that there had been an escape but gave few details.UK military spokesman Major David Gell confirmed that there had been an escape but gave few details.
"We are aware of the incident and it is now under investigation. We will make a statement soon," he told the AFP news agency."We are aware of the incident and it is now under investigation. We will make a statement soon," he told the AFP news agency.
A security source told the agency that the prisoners had been held without charge for the past two years.A security source told the agency that the prisoners had been held without charge for the past two years.
BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood, who is in Basra with the British Army, described it as "a very embarrassing incident" for the army.BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood, who is in Basra with the British Army, described it as "a very embarrassing incident" for the army.
He said: "It does not speak of very tight security given that the British Army says these people were considered to pose a threat to the security of Iraq and to the multi-national forces." It appeared that 10 of the detainees had swapped clothes with visitors and walked out of the prison, he said.
He added: "It does not speak of very tight security given that the British Army says these people were considered to pose a threat to the security of Iraq and to the multi-national forces."
Thousands of Iraqis are held in US and British-run prisons across Iraq for security reasons.Thousands of Iraqis are held in US and British-run prisons across Iraq for security reasons.