Ingram: Daily Mirror abuse pictures "not taken in Iraq"

Friday, 14 May 2004 12:00 AM

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram has told MPs that the Iraq 'abuse' photos published in the Daily Mirror on May 1st 2004 were 'categorically not taken in Iraq'.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon, Mr Ingram told MPs that the truck in which the photos were taken was never in Iraq, and warned that those involved in taking the photos could be subject to criminal prosecutions under military law.

Mr Ingram insisted that British troops 'consistently deliver as a force for good'. They had the same standards and values upon which the UK's reputation is based, and very few of them do things that do not make us proud. They were asked to deliver high standards

He criticised those who 'casually vilify our armed forces' without verifying the facts. It was one thing to have a go at Ministers. Ministers at least had a chance to answer back. Servicemen did not. The public debate had been unbalanced by some individuals who laid claim to sole ownership of human rights, he argued.

Mr Ingram said he could not talk about the detail of the report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), but added that it went without saying that whatever wrong-doing was identified, appropriate action would be taken. He was also awaiting a report by the ICRC on a subsequent investigation.

Mr Ingram said that much had been made of his statement of May 4th. However, he stressed that he had not received the report from the ICRC, which expressed concerns about the treatment of prisoners by British troops. They had been construed as a denial that he had not seen any evidence.

He told MPs: 'When I said that I had not received it, it was a correct and honest answer. That does not mean to say I was unaware of the issues and the actions being taken.'

He also denied allegations that he had received a report or a dossier from Amnesty, telling Parliament that he received only one document from Amnesty last October. 'It was hardly a dossier,' he said. It was a letter only just over a page in length and dealing with only one incident, he explained.

'The central charge is that I received reports about abuse in attention and did nothing about it. That simply does not stand up.'

Turning to the pictures published in the Daily Mirror, he said the investigation was entirely a matter for the Royal Military Police and was currently continuing.

If the investigation resulted in criminal proceedings the evidence would become public at that stage, he said. Any prior disclosure was quite properly a matter for the RMP.

The Special Investigations Branch of the RMP believed there were strong indications that the photos were not genuine. He told MPs: 'These pictures were categorically not taken in Iraq.' This had been independently corroborated. Further, he added: 'The truck in which those photographs were taken was never in Iraq.'

Those involved may have committed criminal offences. The priority was to get to the bottom of these allegations and identify soldiers A and B. Mr Ingram called on the Editor of the Daily Mirror to assist fully in this inquiry. Throughout, the Daily Mirror had asked for honesty openness and professionalism. 'I now challenge the Daily Mirror to do the same,' he said.

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