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UK review military training to prevent civilian abuse

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, March 9, IRNA -- The training of British soldiers is to be improved to avoid abuse of civilian detainees and better reflect the demands of future warfare, Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell has announced.

Rammell also confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is setting up a special dedicated unit to investigate all allegations of abuse of Iraqis by British troops.

"Fighting amongst the people and under judgment of the people in very difficult circumstances has become the norm, and it is increasingly likely to be that way," the minister said.

"How our forces operate in a cluttered and confusing environment will impact on support from civilians in theatre and support at home," he said

Last week, Rammell told parliament that the time had come to deal with the growing cases of the abuse of Iraqi civilians by British troops once and for all by setting up an investigation team, but insisted that the move was “not an admission of fault.”

"More than ever before, the abuse of detainees, mistreatment of civilians and the unnecessary destruction of property or livelihood and tragic loss of civilian life – these are not only wrong but self-defeating," he said in a speech to the Royal United Services Institute on Monday.

The minister said the armed forces "do not always recruit angels" and stressed on the need for robust training of soldiers "to display aggression and single-mindedness in battle, coupled with self-control, judgment and sensitivity to situation and context".

The MoD has hired a former senior police officer of the Inspectorate of Constabulary, Mark Lewindon, to monitor its training policy.

It is also to draw up a new report updating a study by Brigadier Robert Aitken, the army's director of army personnel strategy, two years ago, which identified serious failings in army training and planning for the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath.

The report was ordered after a number of cases alleging ill-treatment by British troops, notably the death of Basra hotel worker Baha Mousa, who suffered 93 injuries while in British custody in September 2003.

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End News / IRNA / News Code 1002596