Baha Mousa public inquiry long overdue

Commenting on Des Browne’s announcement that a public inquiry is to be held into the death of Baha Mousa, the Iraqi civilian who died while in British custody in 2003, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:

 “This announcement is welcome, but long overdue. It has to be asked why the Government took so long to decide a full public inquiry is the right way forward.

 “Serious questions need to be asked about what training troops were given before they were sent to Iraq.

 “We must remember that these cases represent only a tiny minority of our otherwise exemplary Armed Forces personnel, but torture and abuse of any kind is utterly inexcusable and cannot go unpunished or unexamined.”