Britain was probing Iraq abuse before Red Cross report: Blair

[maddezmom]

London — Prime Minister Tony Blair said Monday that he only recently became aware of some specific allegations by the Red Cross that British and American troops had abused Iraqi prisoners.

Mr. Blair's office has said that the International Committee of the Red Cross told the government in February of alleged abuses by coalition troops. The confidential Red Cross report has not been published.


But Mr. Blair told a news conference that "in respect of the specific allegations about the Red Cross and so on, as far as I'm aware, these are things that we only knew of in the last few days."

He also said that "as far as I'm aware, not merely myself but all other government ministers did not know these specific allegations until they arose in the newspapers recently."

According to Mr. Blair's official spokesman, the prime minister was not aware of the Red Cross report when it was passed to British officials in February because it was handled at "operational" level.

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more:http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040510.wtony0510/BNStory/Front/

apology, then excuses.... :(

[maddezmom]

1. Mr. Blair said that his government would release sections of the Red Cross

report that related to British troops. He also said he had no objection to the Red Cross publishing the entire document.
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The US should do the same.....

[revcarol]

2. Thought the Brits knew about torture over a year ago.

A man beaten to death, another wounded man just left by the side of the road, another put in the river...why do I not believe him that Feb. is the date they started looking and he just found out about the majority recently?

His desire to release the Red Cross report can only be seen in the light that he was A COMPLETELY CLUELESS INCOMPETENT.