World

Death Squad Probe In Iraq

February 18, 2006 / 10:56 AM EST / CBS/AP

The Shiite-dominated Interior Ministry announced an investigation Thursday into claims of death squads in its ranks after U.S. military officials indicated there was evidence to support the allegation.

Police, meanwhile, found the bodies of a dozen men, bound and shot in the head execution-style, in Baghdad on Thursday, bringing to at least 30 the number of apparent victims of sectarian reprisal killings discovered in the capital in the last four days.

Iraqi security officials said the probe would focus on a single incident involving 22 Iraqi policemen who U.S. authorities said were detained last month before they were able to kill a Sunni Arab man north of Baghdad.

"They were dressed as Iraqi highway patrolmen but only four of those individuals were planning to conduct a kidnapping and subsequent murder of a Sunni individual," Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch told reporters. "We have no indication they have done this in the past. All we know this is an isolated incident. We are not saying it couldn't have happened but we are not aware of it."

Maj. Gen. Hussein Kamal, who announced the investigation, said the four policemen had been transferred to the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison in western Baghdad and the rest were held in Iraqi jails.

However, Sunni Arabs have been complaining for months about kidnappings and murder by Shiite-led commandos operated by the Interior Ministry. Kamal, Iraq's deputy interior minister in charge of domestic intelligence, hinted that the scope of the probe could go beyond the 22 policemen arrested last month.

"After Iraqi authorities were informed by the Americans about the so-called commando forces engaging in assassinations, the interior minister immediately formed an investigation committee to uncover what has actually happened," Kamal said.

In other recent developments:

An Australian television network on Thursday defended airing graphic images of abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, amid U.S. concerns the photographs could heighten anti-U.S. sentiments in the Middle East and endanger the lives of American troops. Mike Carey, senior producer of the Special Broadcasting Service's ``Dateline'' program, said the images appeared to show new cases of mistreatment that should trigger a fresh investigation by U.S. authorities.

The Pentagon would receive another $65 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan while hurricane recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast would get an infusion of at least $18 billion under a request coming from the Bush administration on Thursday. Almost $5 billion more is expected for foreign assistance, including $85 million to promote democratic institutions in Iraq. All told, the request for the wars, foreign aid and other anti-terrorism efforts are expected to exceed $72 billion.

British authorities Tuesday announced the arrest of three people linked to a videotape that appears to show British soldiers abusing Iraqi civilians. Britain's defense ministry says two soldiers are in custody, as well as a third soldier who shot the video more than two years ago. Two Iraqis who claim to have been beaten say they'll seek compensation from Britain.

The Japanese newspaper Mainichi reports that Japan is in the final stage of talks with the United States and Britain over plans to start pulling its troops from Iraq next month and complete the withdrawal by the end of May.

Saddam Hussein and three of his co-defendants announced in court Tuesday they had gone on a hunger strike. "For three days we have been holding a hunger strike protesting against your way of treating us - against you and your masters," the former Iraqi leader said. Their claims could not be independently confirmed. The trial was adjourned until Feb. 28.

Shiite control of Iraqi security forces is a burning issue for politicians trying to form a new government that the U.S. hopes will end the violence. Sunni Arabs and U.S. authorities oppose sectarian Shiite leaders with links to militia groups heading the ministry, but Shiites vow to maintain control of the portfolio.

The U.S. military has been fighting a tough battle to rebuild a legitimate Iraqi security force that it hopes will eventually replace American-led coalition forces and maintain order throughout the country.

Sunni Arabs, particularly in Baghdad, have complained for months that members of their community have been kidnapped by police uniform-wearing forces, executed and dumped throughout Baghdad.

"Interior Ministry special forces detained my brother and four cousins two weeks ago from (Sunni Arab) al-Aqsa Mosque in northern Baghdad's Shula neighborhood," 24-year-old security guard Ayad Ali Mahdi said.

"After two days, their bodies were found in pickup truck on a highway. It was horrific. Their bodies were tortured and mutilated by drills and an oxyacetylene welder," Mahdi said.

The relative of another victim described how two dozen men wearing security forces uniforms broke into his northern Baghdad home last month, pushed his pleading wife aside and dragging out his two brothers, the only men at home at the time.

"We contacted many police stations searching for them but couldn't find any trace. After nine or 10 days, we heard 36 dead bodies were found near (the southern Iraqi city of) Kut, and I found my brothers among them," said Sunni Arab taxi driver Youssef Abdul-Karim, 35.

"They were blindfolded, handcuffed and severely tortured. One of my brothers had drill wounds in his head, while the other was shot in the head and chest."

A Sunni Arab political group, the Iraqi Islamic Party, welcomed the Interior Ministry investigation and said perpetrators should be brought to justice.

"Since a very long time, we have been talking about such violations and we have been telling the Interior Ministry officials that there are squads that raid houses and arrest people who are found later executed in different parts of the capital," said party member Nasser al-Ani.

Iraq's human rights minister, Nermine Othman, said Interior Ministry officials have been behind numerous execution-like murders, either by taking part in the roundups and killings or providing police uniforms, information on potential victims and weapons to culprits.

"There are many people inside the Interior Ministry involved with these deaths," said Nermine Othman. "But no matter who is carrying out these attacks, Shiites or Sunnis, they are all criminals."