Annan Critical of Coalition, Iraqi Officials

From the Associated Press
March 8, 2006
Los Angeles Times
Original Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-annan8mar08,1,5936544.story?coll=la-headlines-world



UNITED NATIONS — U.S.-led coalition forces and Iraqi authorities may be violating international law by their arbitrary detention of thousands of people, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a report published Tuesday. 

The report, which studied the situation in Iraq over the last three months, said the prison system remained a major concern and lamented that an investigation of allegations of torture in Iraqi Interior Ministry jails had not yet been made public as promised. 

Annan's criticism of the multinational force and Iraqi authorities was among the strongest he has made, although many of his assertions were not new. He said the detainment of thousands of Iraqis constitutes de facto arbitrary detention. 

The extent of such practices is not consistent with provisions of international law governing internment on imperative reasons of security, the report said. 

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations refused to comment on the report. 

The U.N. is also investigating allegations against coalition forces and Iraqi authorities, including use of excessive force and theft during raids of homes.