Military Probes Death Of Iraqi Detainee

[thedrifter]

Military Probes Death Of Iraqi Detainee, 52
Man Had Been in Custody Since May 3


By Bradley Graham
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 12, 2003; Page A30


U.S. military authorities have initiated an investigation into the death last Friday of a 52-year-old Iraqi who was jailed in an American detention facility near Nasiriyah, defense officials said yesterday.

The criminal investigation is the first involving the death of a prisoner in U.S. custody in Iraq. A brief statement released by U.S. Central Command said the detainee "was found deceased" at the facility, run by the 1st Marine Division. The detainee, whose name was not given, had been in military custody since May 3, the statement said.

"A full and thorough investigation into the death is being conducted by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the findings of the investigation will be released when the investigation is complete," the statement said.

Beyond that, military spokesmen would not comment, declining to provide any more details about how the detainee had died, the circumstances under which his body was found or why he was in custody.

Since the end of major combat operations in Iraq two months ago, U.S. authorities have released or paroled nearly 11,000 captured Iraqis. The U.S. military has 340 prisoners of war in an internment camp near the southern town of Umm Qasr, according to a senior defense spokesman in Baghdad. Another 30, who were senior members of the deposed government and were on the U.S. list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis, are in a separate facility in Baghdad, the official said.

Further, about 1,600 Iraqis are in what the official called "criminal confinement." This includes looters and petty thieves, who typically are released within 21 days, as well as others considered possible terrorists or Saddam Hussein loyalists and closely screened by military and intelligence authorities.

The number in this group varies from day to day as new captives are added and others are released. They remain confined in several holding areas, including the one near Nasiriyah that was the scene of last week's death, the official said.

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross have visited a number of the detention facilities, but they were not aware of last week's death, according to Washington-based spokeswoman Amanda Williamson.


? 2003 The Washington Post Company



Sempers,

Roger

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