An inquiry has opened into allegations that soldiers from a Scottish army regiment tortured, starved and humiliated Iraqi prisoners during the Gulf War.
The claims, by a former officer in the Royal Highland Fusiliers regiment and several unidentified soldiers, are being investigated by Britain's Ministry of Defense. Defense Secretary Michael Portillo confirmed that military police were interviewing suspects.The allegations have been backed by Member of Parliament Tam Dalyell, who was told of abuses when he visited Iraq after the allied victory in 1991. Last week Dalyell, who led the campaign to uncover war crimes during Britain's war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, presented his findings to Portillo.
Defense Ministry sources have said that an officer who served in the Fusiliers for more than 15 years has made a series of claims about Iraqi prisoners held in Saudi Arabia. Jim Barrow, who has now left the army, has described how soldiers attacked prisoners and forced them to fight for food.
At least two other soldiers have backed his claims. They have alleged that soldiers, frustrated at being away from the front line, charged at Iraqi prisoners with bayonets and held loaded guns to their heads. Others forced prisoners to fight over chocolate bars and to compete for food with guard dogs.
Although former camp leaders have denied the allegations, Defense Ministry officials have launched a wide-ranging inquiry.
An army spokesman said: "Obviously, we would like to say that these claims are rubbish, but they are so detailed and serious that the matter must be cleared up one way or another. These kinds of allegations are very damaging to the reputation of a regiment."
The Defense Ministry confirmed that the Special Investigations Branch of the Royal Military Police was interviewing veterans of the Desert Storm offensive.
The findings of the inquiry will be published in the autumn. If claims are upheld, culprits will be dealt with "at the highest level," the army spokesman said.
Around 650 troops from the Highland Fusiliers served in the Gulf, and only a handful are accused of human rights abuses. The regiment is currently based in Fallingbostel, Germany.
Dalyell welcomed the investigation. "When I was in Iraq a few years ago I heard that while the British acted with great restraint and humanity, some rogue elements behaved brutally," he said. Families had complained that they had treated Iraqis very badly. "I got the impression that the behavior of some troops was not squeaky clean, but I did not raise the issue at the time.
"Now that a series of soldiers have come forward, I am glad that the Ministry of Defense has acted so swiftly. We need to get to the bottom of this."
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)