Rumsfeld meets leaders of his forces in Baghdad, visits Abu Ghreib
Iraq-USA, Politics, 5/14/2004

The US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld met upon his arrival yesterday in Baghdad in a sudden visit with senior US military officers.

Rumsfeld denied that the defense department is trying to hide the case of mistreating the Iraqi prisoners by the American soldiers in Abu Ghreib jail. He added that his visit to Iraq aims at calming down criticism over this case, rather than being an inspection visit.

The American secretary told journalists " I want to listen to officials on the daily process of special operations relating to the detainees and to make sure they are treated properly, noting the need of treating the Iraqi detainees appropriately.

He explained that the US gives special interest to dealing with the Iraqi prisoners in a proper way and the appropriate conduct of the soldier and is concerned with the importance of drawing an effective system for the military leadership.

For his part the chief of staff of the American joint forces Gen. Richard Meyers. who accompanied Rumsfeld in his visit said that the issue of treating the Iraqi prisoners is " a catastrophic scandal and nothing can be said otherwise." However, he said the American forces enjoy a great deal of morals in Iraq. Press sources said the American secretary visited Abu Gheib prison which witnessed worst violations of human rights.

The visit of the US minister coincides with the criticism the US is facing from several countries over abusing Iraqi detainees by the occupation soldiers.

Meantime, a spokesman for the occupation forces said that one American soldier from the Marines forces died because of his wounds as a result of an attack he was exposed to while carrying out a military operation in al-Anbar province to the west of Iraq.

In a statement, the spokesman said that one marine member from the first reconnaissance force died on May 12. The statement did not explain how the officer was injured under the pretext that details about the incident might endanger other soldiers.

In a later development, four Marines were injured, one is in a critical situation near Falujja city as a result of bomb explosion, according to witnesses. The leader of the second group in the first contingent of the Marines troops refused to comment whether the attack is considered a violation to the cease fire in the city.

News reports said that two Iraqis were injured in a bomb explosion in al-Karradah area in the downtown of Baghdad fell on one of the buildings and inflected material damages.

Previous Stories:
  Unidentified organization announces beheading of one American in Iraq   (5/13/2004)
  U.S. Commander Says Iraqi Prison Investigations Just Beginning   (5/11/2004)
  Three Iraqis were killed, threats to foreign workers in Basra   (5/11/2004)

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