10 June 2004 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush of creating the climate for the Iraqi prison-abuse scandal.
The New York-based rights groups issued the criticism in a new 38-page report issued yesterday.
HRW said Washington circumvented international law and spent two years covering up or ignoring reports of mistreatment or abuse by U.S. troops in the war in Afghanistan and occupation of Iraq.
The U.S. government has denied it had a policy to mistreat detainees in its war on terrorism.
Six U.S. soldiers face possible courts-martial and one has already been sentenced to more than a year in prison for the abuse at the Abu Ghurayb prison near Baghdad.
(AP/Reuters)
HRW said Washington circumvented international law and spent two years covering up or ignoring reports of mistreatment or abuse by U.S. troops in the war in Afghanistan and occupation of Iraq.
The U.S. government has denied it had a policy to mistreat detainees in its war on terrorism.
Six U.S. soldiers face possible courts-martial and one has already been sentenced to more than a year in prison for the abuse at the Abu Ghurayb prison near Baghdad.
(AP/Reuters)