Iraqis ask for torture inquiry

BRITISH troops were accused at the High Court in London yesterday of using interrogation techniques on Iraqi civilian detainees that breached human rights laws.

Six Iraqis are asking the court to order an independent public inquiry into allegations that soldiers may have killed up to 20 captives held after a gun battle in southern Iraq in 2004.

They are offering medical evidence they say supports their claim that captives were tortured, murdered and their bodies mutilated. Five of the six say they were mistreated by British forces.

The case was adjourned until Monday.