High court rejects Iraqi prisoners' call for public inquiry into torture claims

Iraqi men who were held as prisoners by the British military after the invasion today lost their high court bid for an inquiry into their allegations that they were tortured. Two judges upheld the refusal by the defence secretary, Liam Fox, to order an immediate public inquiry into the allegations made by more than 200 men taken prisoner during the six-year British occupation of south-east Iraq. Lord Justice Richards and Mr Justice Silber ruled that because the Ministry of Defence was already investigating the complaints an inquiry was not needed at this stage, although they warned that one might be "required in due course". Fox said he was pleased with the decision and added: "We must remember that the overwhelming majority of our armed forces conducted themselves with decency and honour but there may have been occasional lapses in a very violent conflict." Phil Shiner, the solicitor representing the Iraqi men, said: "It is important to note that the court has not said that a public inquiry is unnecessary. In our view today's decision only postpones the independent and effective investigation that must surely take place."