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| Court to probe UK Iraq abuse claims | Court to probe UK Iraq abuse claims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An initial investigation into claims that UK forces abused Iraqi detainees is to be opened by the International Criminal Court. | An initial investigation into claims that UK forces abused Iraqi detainees is to be opened by the International Criminal Court. |
| The preliminary examination will analyse alleged crimes attributed to UK armed forces deployed in Iraq between 2003 and 2008. | The preliminary examination will analyse alleged crimes attributed to UK armed forces deployed in Iraq between 2003 and 2008. |
| Attorney General Dominic Grieve said the government completely rejected allegations of abuse. | Attorney General Dominic Grieve said the government completely rejected allegations of abuse. |
| This will be the first time the UK has been the subject of an ICC probe. | This will be the first time the UK has been the subject of an ICC probe. |
| The head of the military prosecution body in the UK, Andrew Cayley, said it would co-operate. | The head of the military prosecution body in the UK, Andrew Cayley, said it would co-operate. |
| But he said he believed it was unlikely that the ICC would push for a full, formal investigation, as the British government was already investigating claims of abuse in Iraq. | |
| The decision by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to reopen the investigation, which was previously concluded in 2006, comes after a group of public interest and human rights lawyers submitted a dossier of new information in January. | |
| The dossier contained evidence of what the group said was more than 400 cases of mistreatment or unlawful killings. | |
| The ICC in the Hague has jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed in Iraq by nationals of state parties under the Rome Statute. | |
| 'Highest standards' | |
| During the preliminary examination, the prosecutor will consider issues of jurisdiction, admissibility and the interests of justice to decide whether to open a full investigation. | |
| In a statement, the attorney general said he would cooperate fully with the ICC to demonstrate that "British justice is following its proper course". | |
| He said: "The government completely rejects the allegation that there was systematic abuse carried out by the British armed forces in Iraq. | |
| "British troops are some of the best in the world and we expect them to operate to the highest standards, in line with both domestic and international law. | |
| "In my experience the vast majority of our armed forces meet those expectations. Where allegations have been made that individuals may have broken those laws, they are being comprehensively investigated." | |
| Mr Grieve added that he believed the work of inquiry teams to be "independent, robust and meticulous", and with the resources they need to do the job properly. | |
| He said it was his job to ensure that continues to be the case. | |
| "As the minister responsible for overseeing the UK's prosecutors, I understand the importance of the ICC prosecutor following the proper legal procedures when complaints are made," Mr Grieve said. | |
| "The UK government has been, and remains a strong supporter of the ICC and I will provide the Office of the Prosecutor with whatever is necessary to demonstrate that British justice is following its proper course." |