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/6032787.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hundreds of Iraqi police poisoned Police fall ill in central Iraq
(about 3 hours later)
Hundreds of Iraqi police and soldiers have fallen ill after eating a meal at their base near the southern town of Numaniya, according to reports. Eighty-nine Iraqi police needed medical treatment after an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea at a base in central Iraq, health ministry officials say.
Initial reports said some of the victims had died, but hospital officials did not confirm this. They say infected water is the most likely cause of illness in the town of Numaniya. The US military says some 200-300 people are affected.
Iraqi ambulances and US helicopters took the men to hospitals, and samples of food and water were being tested.Iraqi ambulances and US helicopters took the men to hospitals, and samples of food and water were being tested.
There have been suggestions that the suddenness and severity of the sickness may point to deliberate poisoning. Iraqi and US officials denied earlier reports that some of the men had died.
An official has refused to rule out poisoning. The AP news agency quotes Jassim Atwan, an official with the environment ministry, saying that some of the policemen began bleeding from the ears and nose after the meal. The policemen started falling ill soon after breaking their daylight Ramadan fast on Sunday, officials said.
The AFP agency reported that the entire 1,200-strong unit had fallen ill. There had been suggestions that the suddenness and severity of the sickness pointed to deliberate poisoning.
The outbreak happened in the 4th police division - a largely Shia unit.
It is currently stationed in Numaniya - about 80km (60 miles) south-east of Baghdad.