Investigations into Iraqi government death squads

The Iraqi ministry of interior announced it had started an investigation over the existence of execution squads from the Iraqi police composed of 22 persons and these teams assassinate Arab Sunnis in various parts of Iraq.

This coincided with the discovery of 10 new bodies killed in a method like executing death penalties.

The step taken by the ministry of interior came after a high level British military official disclosed the existence of "death squads" responsible for several acts of killing took place in Basra city south of Iraq during the three past months.

Alex Wilson said that "between November 2005 and January 2006 some 141 figures were killed in Basra. A situation which constitutes that number of crimes doubled in comparison to those committed between May and November 2005."

The Chicago Tribune daily quoted one American army general as saying that his forces have evidence that one Iraqi ministry of interior execution squad exists composed of 22 men appointed in their being as policemen with external missions.