Abuse by British 'more widespread'

OSNABRUCK - The abuse of Iraqi civilians by British troops was more widespread than the torture and sexual humiliation allegedly carried out by three members of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, a court martial was told yesterday.

An Army Lieutenant Colonel revealed that prisoner abuse had become so frequent in British-occupied Iraq he had been forced to issue specific orders insisting soldiers should not assault civilians and that they should be treated "with humanity and dignity at all times".

Colonel Nicholas Mercer, a legal services expert for the Army in Iraq, was speaking as a witness at the court martial in Germany of Corporal Daniel Kenyon, 33, and Lance Corporals Mark Cooley, 25, and Darren Larkin, 30, who are on trial at a British Army military base at Osnabruck on charges of assault and indecent conduct.

Photographs showing the accused men allegedly torturing Iraqis and forcing them to simulate sex acts prompted widespread condemnation in Britain and across the world.

The images also provoked anger among MPs, who demanded an inquiry into how far up the chain of command the order to allegedly mistreat prisoners had originated.

MPs questioned why senior officers were not also facing a court martial after yesterday's hearing was told that the accused men claimed they were only following orders.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "I think everyone finds those photographs shocking and appalling."

- INDEPENDENT