UN urges Iraq, US to address human rights abuses

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
By Matthew Robinson
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The United Nations on Wednesday
urged the Iraqi government and U.S.-led multinational forces to address
human rights violations amid increasing reports of prisoner abuse.
Iraq's government has been under pressure over its human rights
record since American troops stumbled across a secret bunker run by the
Interior Ministry last month where prisoners showed signs of torture and
malnutrition.
Since then, prisoners showing signs of abuse have been found in
another Iraqi jail. The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq has also faced
high-profile prisoner abuse scandals.
Ibrahim Gambari, the U.N. undersecretary-general for political
affairs, told the U.N. Security Council the human rights situation in Iraq
required "urgent action" by multinational forces and the government.
"We welcome the commitment of the multinational force to take
initial corrective steps, particularly with regard to the issue of
detainees, and urge the Iraqi government to follow up on its announced
actions to address this serious situation," Gambari said during a meeting on
Iraq.
The discovery of the mostly Sunni Arab prisoners has fueled
sectarian tensions ahead of Thursday's election, which the United States
hopes will ease the country's bloodshed.
In response, Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations Samir
al-Sumaidaie told the council and reporters later the violations did not
"represent a policy or a pattern the government will follow."
"But we understand we have a problem. We have a lot of people who
were policemen and brought up in a culture of lawlessness" under Saddam
Hussein, he said.
Despite escalating violence by insurgents ahead of the vote,
Sumaidaie said he expected a high turnout in the elections "irrespective of
any challenges or attempts by terrorists to hinder or impede the voting
process."
U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, speaking for the multinational force,
praised what he called the "successful political transition in Iraq" and
strides in training and equipping Iraq's security forces.
But he acknowledged the government and foreign troops needed to take
additional steps to "foster good and transparent governance, the rule of
law, respect for human rights, and the well-being of all Iraqi citizens."
Bolton said 97 Iraq army and special operations units were
conducting combat operations, of which 38 have multinational force support
or are "fully independent," while 28 special police force battalions were
capable of combat operations.
Sumaidaie said Bolton's report provided useful statistics on the
Iraqi government's ability to "take ownership" of the security situation.
"These indicators show the tide is turning against the terrorists.
Security cannot be guaranteed by security forces," but by cooperation
between security forces and the people, Sumaidaie said. But he added the
U.N. presence was "still at a low level" and wanted an increase in staff.
 
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