Manfred Nowak, the UN's special rapporteur on torture (file photo) (AFP)
September 21, 2006 -- A top UN rights envoy says torture in Iraq may be worse now than under the regime of Saddam Hussein.
Manfred Nowak, the UN's special rapporteur on torture, says interviews with victims and others have led him to believe that torture in Iraq today is "totally out of hand."
Nowak described a situation where militias, terrorist groups, government forces, and others routinely disregard rules on the humane treatment of prisoners.
Nowak has not made an official visit to Iraq, saying such a mission is not feasible as long as the security situation is so dangerous.
(AP)