This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20953889

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

Version 1 Version 2
Ex-Abu Ghraib inmates get $5m settlement from US firm Ex-Abu Ghraib inmates get $5m settlement from US firm
(about 1 hour later)
A defence contractor whose subsidiary was accused of conspiring to torture Abu Ghraib prisoners has settled with former inmates for $5m (£3m).A defence contractor whose subsidiary was accused of conspiring to torture Abu Ghraib prisoners has settled with former inmates for $5m (£3m).
US firm Engility Holdings paid 71 people held at Abu Ghraib, Baghdad, and other US-run prisons, on behalf of L-3 Services, according to a legal filing found by the Associated Press.US firm Engility Holdings paid 71 people held at Abu Ghraib, Baghdad, and other US-run prisons, on behalf of L-3 Services, according to a legal filing found by the Associated Press.
L-3 provided translators to the US military in post-war Iraq.L-3 provided translators to the US military in post-war Iraq.
Images of abuse at Abu Ghraib in 2004 sparked international outage.Images of abuse at Abu Ghraib in 2004 sparked international outage.
Another contractor which provided interrogators to the US military, CACI, is expected to go to trial over similar allegations.Another contractor which provided interrogators to the US military, CACI, is expected to go to trial over similar allegations.
The US government is immune from lawsuits stemming from combat actions by the military in time of war, but courts are still establishing whether independent firms operating in war zones should have the same legal immunity.The US government is immune from lawsuits stemming from combat actions by the military in time of war, but courts are still establishing whether independent firms operating in war zones should have the same legal immunity.
The Engility settlement marks the first successful effort by lawyers for former Iraqi prisoners against defence contractors in lawsuits alleging torture.The Engility settlement marks the first successful effort by lawyers for former Iraqi prisoners against defence contractors in lawsuits alleging torture.
A lawyer for the ex-detainees, Baher Azmy, told the Associated Press that each of the 71 Iraqis received a portion of the settlement. A lawyer for the ex-detainees, Baher Azmy told the BBC's Newsday programme that each of the 71 Iraqis received a portion of the settlement for suffering "a vast and grim arsenal of torture and abuse".
He did not say how the money was distributed, and said there was an agreement to keep details of the settlement confidential.He did not say how the money was distributed, and said there was an agreement to keep details of the settlement confidential.
"Private military contractors played a serious but often under-reported role in the worst abuses at Abu Ghraib," said Mr Azmy, legal director at the Center for Constitutional Rights. Mr Azmy, legal director at the Center for Constitutional Rights., said that although some soldiers were court-martialled for their role in abuses at Abu Ghraib, the US Army had not sought to prosecute private contractors.
"We are pleased that this settlement provides some accountability for one of those contractors and offers some measure of justice for the victims." "This litigation attempts to close that gap in accountability and hold corporations - who, by the way, made millions and millions of dollars from US government work in Iraq - accountable, and give back some of those extravagant profits to individuals they harmed," said Mr Azmy.
The firm said it did not comment on legal matters. Engility Holdings said it did not comment on legal matters.
Abu Ghraib came to world attention after the release in 2004 of photographs showing the physical, sexual and psychological abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US guards.Abu Ghraib came to world attention after the release in 2004 of photographs showing the physical, sexual and psychological abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US guards.
The images showed prisoners facing dogs, being stripped naked and wired up as if being subjected to electric shocks and became a turning point of the Iraq war.The images showed prisoners facing dogs, being stripped naked and wired up as if being subjected to electric shocks and became a turning point of the Iraq war.
Eleven soldiers were convicted of breaking military laws, but many received sentences of a just a few years. The last remaining soldier in prison convicted in the case was released in August 2011.Eleven soldiers were convicted of breaking military laws, but many received sentences of a just a few years. The last remaining soldier in prison convicted in the case was released in August 2011.