Mousa gets independent inquiry

Updated 16.54 Wed May 14 2008

Keywords: Phil Shiner, Des Browne, Baha Mousa

Relatives of an Iraqi civilian who died in British custody have claimed victory after the Government pledged an independent inquiry into the incident.

Solicitor Phil Shiner insisted the investigation into the death of Iraqi Baha Mousa should have a broad remit to examine other alleged cases of manslaughter and torture by British troops.

"It will reassure the public that we are leaving no stone unturned in investigating his tragic death" - Defence Secretary Des Browne

The inquiry will be headed by a judge who will have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence.

Defence Secretary Des Browne told MPs: "A public inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa is the right thing to do. It will reassure the public that we are leaving no stone unturned in investigating his tragic death.

"The Army has nothing to hide in this respect and is keen to learn all the lessons it can from this terrible incident."

The final scope of the inquiry is yet to be determined.

But it may lead to an embarrassing and damaging analysis of how interrogation techniques supposedly banned in 1972 came to be used by British troops in Iraq in 2003.

However, because it is confined to Mr Mousa's death the inquiry may not be able to look at other alleged incidents.

Mr Shiner, who represents Mr Mousa's family and other Iraqis who were mistreated, said: "It will not be sufficient if the inquiry has a narrow remit and does not look at all the cases and issues.

"The public, as well as Parliament, must be given the opportunity of fully understanding what went wrong in our detention policy in Iraq and what are the lessons to be learned for the future."

Last month the Government admitted breaching the human rights of Mr Mousa, who died while in British custody in Basra in September 2003.

The Ministry of Defence said it would also admit breaching the rights of eight other Iraqi men who have brought a civil case in the British courts.

The announcements - more than four years after Mr Mousa's death - opened the door to unlimited compensation pay-outs to his family, and to the eight men.

Mr Mousa, 26, a hotel receptionist, died after being detained under suspicion of being an insurgent.