By Country / Iraq
Iraqi Ambassador Acknowledges Prisoner-Abuse Problem
December 15, 2005
15 December 2005 -- Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations, Samir al-Sumaydai'i, has acknowledged that Iraqi police forces have a "problem" abusing prisoners, and has pledged that authorities will put a stop to the abuse.
Al-Sumaydai'i was responding at the UN after the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, this week said at least 120 abused prisoners have been found at two detention facilities run by the Iraqi Interior Ministry.
After speaking to the UN Security Council yesterday, the Iraqi ambassador said many police and others had been trained in a culture of lawlessness under Saddam Hussein's regime.
He pledged that anyone found guilty of abusing prisoners would be punished.
UN Undersecretary-General for political affairs Ibrahim Gambari urged the Iraqi government and U.S.-led coalition forces to address human rights violations.
(Reuters/AP)