European rights group bids for ICC probe of alleged UK war crimes in Iraq

The 250-page document entitled “The Responsibility of UK Officials for War Crimes Involving Systematic Detainee Abuse in Iraq from 2003-2008”, published by the German-based European Centre for Constitutional Human Rights, calls for "opening of an investigation” by the International War Crimes Court into the actions of senior British officials during the conflict. The document concludes that individuals at the highest level of the UK and political system were aware, or should have been aware, of the brutal war crimes committed by British soldiers in Iraq between 2003 to 2008. The army chief, General Sir Peter Wall, ex-defense secretary Geoff Hoon and former defense minister Adam Ingram were among those named.

In first comment on the allegations, Foreign Secretary William Hague rejected charges of systematic abuse and said there is no need for the ICC to interfere in the case. “We will take care of any wrongdoing ourselves,” he said.