British soldiers accused of grossly violating Geneva conventions
Violations, including mock executions, took place during battle in which 20 Iraqis were killed, public inquiry into incident told
British soldiers committed “gross violations of the Geneva conventions”, including mock executions, during a fierce battle in which 20 Iraqis were killed and nine other seriously mistreated after they were captured, a public inquiry into the incident has been told.
The allegations were made by lawyers representing the Iraqis and their families. But suggestions that the soldiers murdered, mutilated and tortured Iraqi insurgents were dismissed by those representing the soldiers as “the product of lies” and of evidence that was “deliberately fabricated”. Lawyers for the Ministry of Defence accused Iraqi witnesses at the inquiry of a “conspiracy” to pervert the course of justice.
