http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N09389250.htmWASHINGTON, May 9 (Reuters) - A leading Republican senator said on Sunday there are "many, many" criminal investigations going on of deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq "at the hands of United States officials."
Speaking as new photographs were published apparently showing abuse of U.S.-held prisoners in Iraq, U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican, told CBS's "Face the Nation" program the number of investigations could be as many as 30 or more.
Hagel said he could not discuss details of matters presented to him as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee but that they extended beyond the ongoing controversy over Iraqi prisoners of war at the Abu Ghraib prison.
"There are many, many investigations ongoing now as a result of deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq, deaths that came at the hands of United States officials," Hagel said.
He said he did not know precisely how many probes were continuing, some which have been referred to the U.S. Justice Department. "My understanding is that its probably in the range of 30, maybe more than that, of investigations, not all are homicide," he said.
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