UK pledges new Basra death inquiry
Updated on 06 July 2009
The Defence Secretary, Bob Ainsworth, has conceded that there should be a new investigation into the deaths of 20 Iraqis in Basra five years ago, prompting a judge to criticise the government's handling of the case.
The defence secretary has apologised to a court for not providing information for a case, and conceded that there should be a new investigation into the deaths of 20 Iraqis near Basra five years ago.
The judge said the government's handling of the case made it "a complete waste of time - at vast expense". And gagging orders had been sought by the government "on a partly false basis".
Five Iraqis and relatives of a dead teenager are calling for a public inquiry into claims of torture and murder, which the Ministry of Defence denies.
