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Iraq torture photos row widens More doubts have been raised over the authenticity of photos apparently showing UK soldiers torturing an Iraqi captive. Tory defence spokesman Nicholas Soames questioned the decision of the Daily Mirror to publish the pictures. And sources close to the Army have raised discrepancies over the clothing worn in the pictures, the rifle held, and the vehicle in the background. The Mirror says extensive checks were carried out to establish the photos' veracity and that it has no doubts. An investigation has begun into claims, also carried in the Mirror, that British troops assaulted the prisoner before throwing him from a lorry. Mr Soames said: "One has to wonder at the behaviour of the Mirror in publishing these pictures where there is clearly a question mark over their veracity. "These pictures... will have made the life of British forces on the ground in Basra even more difficult than it is already. "We need to be a little more cautious before rushing to judgement." Army scepticism Tony Blair says that if the photos are authentic this is "completely and totally unacceptable". The pictures show a hooded man being urinated on, a boot placed on his head, and a rifle butt in his groin. However, BBC defence correspondent Paul Adams says sources close to The Queen's Lancashire Regiment believe many aspects of the photographs are suspicious. He says they believe the pictures may not have even been taken in Iraq. They believe the rifle is an SA80 mk 1 - which was not issued to troops in Iraq. They say soldiers in Iraq wore berets or hard hats - and not floppy hats as in the photos. They also believe the wrong type of Bedford truck is shown in the background - a type never deployed in Iraq. Our correspondent said the regiment concerned had suffered a difficult tour of Iraq, with charges expected to be brought in the case of a man beaten to death in custody. Colonel Bob Stewart, who commanded British forces in the Balkans, told BBC News Online he could not be sure whether the photos were genuine or not. There is no place in our regiment for individuals capable of such appalling and sickening behaviour The Queen's Lancashire Regiment As well as questions over the rifle, vehicle and hat, he also pointed out that there were discrepancies over clothing and the condition of the captive. "The shirt looks like a football shirt. Is that the sort of shirt that a captive might be wearing, slightly silky with an Iraqi flag? "Why is it not dirty and dishevelled, why is the man not showing some signs of damage after eight hours of beatings? "Why would the soldiers be wearing webbing that is undone? Normally soldiers are very particular about that." But Colonel Stewart said whether the photos were proven to be real or fake the damage done to Iraqi and Arab opinion was "like a cork out of a bottle", acting as a recruiting sergeant for the insurgents. "What happens to the next British soldier who is taken hostage?" He said if it was real, those behind the captive's ordeal, or fake, those responsible for mocking it up, were responsible for extra casualties and deaths. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme: "There is a very high-level investigation taking place. The allegations are terrible." But he refused to be drawn on what compensation any victims of maltreatment would be offered, or on the outcome of the inquiry. "Of course it follows we will accept whatever obligations there are upon us." Army spokesman Roger Goodwin, on behalf of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment, said: "Whether the soldiers involved in the alleged atrocities were members of the QLR needs to be established. "There is no place in our regiment for individuals capable of such appalling and sickening behaviour." Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/3678221.stm
Quote from: Don Rizzle on May 10, 2006, 03:16:12 AMiraq would just get annexed by iranThat would be a great solution. If Iran and the majority of Iraqi's are pleased with it, then why shouldn't they do it?
iraq would just get annexed by iran