Iraq

Iraq ‘abuse’ victims interviewed

Investigators examining claims that British troops committed abuses in Iraq have begun interviewing the alleged victims.

The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) began taking statements last month from the first of over 150 Iraqis who say they suffered violence and ill-treatment at the hands of British forces from 2003 after the invasion of Iraq.

The Government set up the team last year to investigate allegations after calls for a public inquiry into abuse claims by UK forces.

An IHAT spokesman said: "We can confirm IHAT investigators started interviewing the alleged Iraqi victims in March 2011.

"It would be inappropriate to comment on the locations of the interviews. They took place in a third-party country and we are very grateful for the co-operation of the country concerned."

"There are no interviews currently being conducted but IHAT investigations are ongoing."

The team is made up of more than 80 Royal Military Police and former civilian detectives. The work of the inquiry covers around 100 separate cases involved 160 alleged victims and is expected to take two years to complete its findings.

In December last year a group of Iraqi civilians lost a High Court bid to force the Defence Secretary Liam Fox to hold a wide-ranging public inquiry into claims of abuse by British troops between 2003 and 2008.

They are currently seeking to reverse this decision in the Court of Appeal.