UK troops face abuse allegations

The British army is facing 33 allegations of rape and abuse of Iraqi civilians who were detained by its troops during the US-led war.

Saturday's allegations come in the wake of the British withdrawal from Iraq this year. It is claimed that male and female soldiers mistreated Iraqi civilians in southern Iraq during six years of combat operations. The Ministry of Defense says the allegations are being taken seriously. British Armed Forces Minister, Bill Rammell, says any new claims of mistreatment will be investigated. The lawyer representing the Iraqi claimants is calling for a public enquiry.

Phil Shiner, Iraqi Claimants' lawyer, said, "What now needs to happen is that that evidence needs to be tested in public in a full public enquiry before a judge, and then we will know, the MOD will know whether these things have happened and if they have then reforms can be made to make sure it never happens again."

Last year, Britain settled a legal case involving the death of one Iraqi civilian, and the abuse of nine others, paying out nearly three million British pounds in compensation or five million US dollars.

British Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell in Rio de Janeiro  September 4, 2009. Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday  it was investigating fresh complaints that its troops had abused  prisoners in Iraq. (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes)