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17 November 2005

U.S., Iraqi Governments Deplore Abuse of Detainees

United States, Iraq working together to prevent recurrence of abuse

The U.S. and Iraqi governments are united in condemning the mistreatment of detainees anywhere, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, November 17.

"As the Iraqi Prime Minister has said, we are working together to make sure that there will be no recurrence of any form of abuse in any detention facilities in Iraq," the statement said.

U.S. soldiers discovered 169 Iraqi prisoners, who showed signs of having been abused, when they raided a former bomb shelter and major operations center for the Interior Ministry November 13.

Following is the text of the U.S. Embassy statement:

(begin text)

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Baghdad, Iraq

NEWS RELEASE
Contact: U.S. Embassy Spokesman's Office
Public Affairs Section
Tel: 1-914-360-6452; Iraqna 07901-819-314
Email: BaghdadPressOffice@state.gov

Thursday, November 17, 2005

IRAQI DETAINEE ABUSE ALLEGATIONS & INVESTIGATION

We strongly condemn mistreatment of detainees anywhere.  The U.S. and the Iraqi governments are united in deploring any such practices, which are contrary to the policy of either the U.S. Government or the Iraqi Government.  Detainee abuse is not and will not be tolerated by either the Iraqi Government or the Multi-National Forces in Iraq.

The Iraqi Government has the lead to investigate, prosecute, and bring to justice those who may be found responsible for any abuse of detainees.  As the Iraqi Prime Minister has said, we are working together to make sure that there will be no recurrence of any form of abuse in any detention facilities in Iraq. 

The Iraqi Government has assured us that it will take immediate action to investigate the incident and to undertake measures to ensure that no Ministry of Interior detainees would be subject to abuse anywhere in Iraq.  The Prime Minister has agreed to a Six-Point Plan for Dealing with all allegations of detainee abuse and to institute means to provide accountability by Iraqi Security Forces to ensure humane treatment of all detainees.

We have made clear to the Iraqi Government that there must not be militia or sectarian control or direction of Iraqi Security Forces, facilities or ministries.  The U.S. will assist the Iraqi Government in every way to conduct a fair investigation.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)