Goldsmith 'told Army to ignore Rights Act' in Iraq

Last updated at 12:02 29 May 2007


The Attorney General was today facing allegations that he had instructed Army chiefs to ignore the Human Rights Act in Iraq.

Leaked emails between London and military chiefs in Iraq suggest Lord Goldsmith advised a "pragmatic" approach to handling prisoners rather than adherence to the "higher standards" of human rights.

Experts claim the Attorney General was effectively advising the military to observe the Geneva Conventions but ignore the Act, according to The Independent.

They say this was contrary to advice given by the Army's senior lawyer in Iraq, who urged for the higher standards to be met.

Rights groups and international law experts will call on the Government to disclose Lord Goldsmith's legal opinion amid fears that the advice could have helped create a culture of abuse.

Last month, the first British soldier convicted of a war crime was jailed for a year and dismissed from the Army.

He was convicted of mistreating Iraqi civilians, including hotel worker Baha Mousa, who died of injuries at the hands of British soldiers.

In 2005, three British soldiers were jailed by court martial in Germany after "trophy" photographs showed Iraqi detainees being abused.

Rights groups are preparing action over about 60 more allegations of abuse.

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