British soldiers 'stamped on necks'

Last updated at 15:15 10 May 2004

An Iraqi hotel receptionist who died after a beating from British troops is among the victims in abuse allegations highlighted in the leaked Red Cross report, published in full today on an American website. 

Married father-of-two Baha Mousa, 28, was among nine men seized at a hotel in Basra last September. 

"Following their arrest, the nine men were made to kneel, face and hands against the ground, as if in a prayer position," the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) report said. 

"The soldiers stamped on the back of the neck of those raising their head." 

Soldiers confiscated the men's money before moving them to Al-Hakimiya, a former office of Saddam Hussein's secret police. 

There they were "beaten severely", the 24-page report noted. 

The confidential February 4 report appeared on the Wall Street Journal website today. 

Injuries 'consistent with beating'

Before he died, fellow captives heard Mr Mousa, whose name is blanked out in the document, "screaming and asking for assistance". 

The death certificate said he had died of "asphyxia" but the cause was listed as "Unknown", adding: "Refer to the coroner". 

Eyewitnesses told the Red Cross Mr Mousa had a broken nose, several broken ribs and cuts to the face "consistent with beating". 

His father Daoud was taken to identify the body and the next month the commander of coalition forces in Basra expressed his condolences, promising to punish those responsible. 

Mr Mousa's family are now among the relatives of 14 dead Iraqis who have launched a High Court bid for compensation from the Government. 

Two other detainees were "hospitalised with severe injuries", according to the Red Cross. 

A doctor from the charity who examined them said injuries on their stomach, buttocks, sides, thigh wrists, nose and forehead matched their account of being beaten. 

Warning last April

The Red Cross also states that a British official in Doha was warned about ill-treatment of detainees in Umm Qasr last April. 

"The ICRC orally informed the political adviser of the commander of British Armed Forces at the CF Central Command in Doha," the report said. 

"This intervention had the immediate effect to stop the systematic use of hoods and flexi-cuffs in the interrogation section of Umm Qasr. 

"Brutal treatment of persons deprived of their liberty also allegedly ceased when the 800th MP Brigade took over the guarding of that section in Umm Qasr. 

"UK Forces handed over Umm Qasr holding area to the 800th MP Brigade on 09.04.03."