Tortured screams ring out as Iraqis take over Abu Ghraib ["The Americans were better...]

The notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad is at the centre of fresh abuse allegations just a week after it was handed over to Iraqi authorities, with claims that inmates are being tortured by their new captors.

Inside the 100-yard long cell block the smell of excrement was overpowering. Four to six prisoners shared each of the 12ft by 15ft cells along either side and the walls were smeared with filth. The cell block was patrolled by guards who carried long batons and shouted angrily at the prisoners to stand up.

Access to the part of the prison containing terrorism suspects was denied, but from that block came the sound of screaming. The screaming continued for a long time.

"I am sure someone was being beaten, they were screaming like they were being hit," the witness reported. "I felt scared, I was asking what was happening in the terrorist section.

"I heard shouting, like someone had a hot iron on their body, screams. The officer said they were just screaming by themselves. I was hearing the screams throughout the visit."

The witness said that even in the thieves' section prisoners were being treated badly. "Someone was shouting 'Please help us, we want the human rights officers, we want the Americans to come back'," he said.

Prisoners interviewed in the presence of their jailers said they were frightened for their safety. They complained that chicken and milk had been cut from their rations, leaving them on rice and water. They also complained about the oppressive heat.

Outside the prison, relatives of some of the inmates said they were being tortured by their captors. One woman, who gave her name as Omsaad, said: "My son Saad [who was arrested in Fallujah as a suspected insurgent] said he is being tortured by the Iraqis to confess the name of his leader. I met my son and he told me they were being treated badly by the Iraqis."

Haleem Aleulami, who was released from the jail last week, three weeks after being arrested in Ramadi for carrying a pistol in his car, said the Americans had treated him better when they ran the jail. He claimed that visits from the International Red Cross staff had dried up and accused local human rights workers of being members of Shia groups who turned a blind eye to problems in the jail.

"The people are Iraqis and they are members of the Sciri and al Dawa parties. They have a good relationship with the leaders of the jail and they keep quiet," he said. The guards swore at the ordinary prisoners, he said, but those in the terrorist section were treated more brutally.

"The guards were swearing at us, but in the terrorist section they were beating them. I heard it all the time. Everyone knows what is happening."

And Khalid Alaani, who was also picked up in Ramadi suspected of involvement in Sunni terrorism, said: "We preferred the Americans. We asked to move with them to Baghdad airport because we knew the treatment would be changed because we know what the Iraqis are. When the Americans left everything changed."

Staff at the jail said that the prisoners were allowed out from their cells for only 15 to 20 minutes a day because of the danger from the regular mortar attacks. They are no longer allowed access to the main hall where the Americans had allowed them to watch television and the room is now reserved for the use of officers and guards. Staff explained that the air conditioning in the cell blocks had broken, although it was working in their quarters.

One officer, Capt Ali Abdelzaher, said: "We have a problem with the financing for the food, not like the Americans, and there is a technical problem with the air conditioning."

Capt Abdelzaher also confirmed that a number of inmates had been transferred from the Jadriyah detention centre, along with their guards and interrogators.

Graphic stories of abuse at that previously secret facility emerged after US soldiers found 169 prisoners showing signs of torture last November.

Most of the prisoners held by the Americans at Abu Ghraib were either released in recent months or transferred to a new £32 million detention centre at Camp Cropper near Baghdad International Airport.

Yesterday, the International Red Cross confirmed that its visits to the prison had been suspended since January 2005 on security grounds.

Inside the 100-yard long cell block the smell of excrement was overpowering. Four to six prisoners shared each of the 12ft by 15ft cells along either side and the walls were smeared with filth.

Perhaps the prisoners should refrain from smearing filth on their walls and from slinging crap at the guards so that the cell block will not smell of excrement. Let's see... assuming an average person could lay down in a space less than 3 ft by 6 ft, that means there are 10 spaces - room for 4 to 6 more prisoners and still no spooning required.

The cell block was patrolled by guards who carried long batons and shouted angrily at the prisoners to stand up.

I notice the reporter doesn't say the guards were actually whacking prisoners with billyclubs. There must be too much room in the cells. Pack those buggers in until there is standing room only and the guards won't have to shout angrily at prisoners to stand up.

Access to the part of the prison containing terrorism suspects was denied, but from that block came the sound of screaming. The screaming continued for a long time.

Maybe they were screaming in ecstasy because the new Victoria's Secret catalogs had arrived.

"I am sure someone was being beaten, they were screaming like they were being hit," the witness reported. "I felt scared, I was asking what was happening in the terrorist section.

Um, what witness? Who? A prisoner? A guard?

"I heard shouting, like someone had a hot iron on their body, screams. The officer said they were just screaming by themselves. I was hearing the screams throughout the visit."

Hmmm. Sounds like the "witness" is a family member allowed to visit someone who is jailed. I wonder if he/she/it and not the reporter was the one who claimed there was an overpowering stench fomrt he one cellblock. did the "witness" explain why guards would "torture" prisoners when there were visitors about?

The witness said that even in the thieves' section prisoners were being treated badly. "Someone was shouting 'Please help us, we want the human rights officers, we want the Americans to come back'," he said.

Better yet, don't steal and you won't have to wish for human rights officers to visit.

Prisoners interviewed in the presence of their jailers said they were frightened for their safety.

What is remarkable is that the prisoners feel free to complain in front of their jailers. Apparently they don't have to consider the repercussions in this case. As for chicken and milk, well, bread and water is good enough for sailors in Navy brigs and that also means no chicken and milk. Be grateful you are not seasick.

That's Saad. I would be more sympathetic but for the fact that you were allowed to meet your son. If it were up to me suspected insurgents wouldn't get visitation rights to chat with their moms.

Haleem Aleulami, who was released from the jail last week, three weeks after being arrested in Ramadi for carrying a pistol in his car, said the Americans had treated him better when they ran the jail....

Hey Haleem, ever consider joining the NRA?

...The guards swore at the ordinary prisoners, he said, but those in the terrorist section were treated more brutally.

Wow. You prefer panties on the head to getting a good dose of Iraqi profanity? Define "more brutally" than getting cussed out, please.

"The guards were swearing at us, but in the terrorist section they were beating them. I heard it all the time. Everyone knows what is happening." The terrorists were getting beaten? Well, that's OK with me - if true. But I don't think it is possible to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt what was going on just from sounds. It's not like prisoners can't yell just to give the impression of bad treatment.

And Khalid Alaani, who was also picked up in Ramadi suspected of involvement in Sunni terrorism, said: "We preferred the Americans. We asked to move with them to Baghdad airport because we knew the treatment would be changed because we know what the Iraqis are. When the Americans left everything changed."

Call it a cultural quirk if you like but I hope you understand why we prefer to keep most Sunni terrorists away from airports.

Staff at the jail said that the prisoners were allowed out from their cells for only 15 to 20 minutes a day because of the danger from the regular mortar attacks.

OK, go ahead and let them get pummeled by mortars.

They are no longer allowed access to the main hall where the Americans had allowed them to watch television and the room is now reserved for the use of officers and guards. Staff explained that the air conditioning in the cell blocks had broken, although it was working in their quarters.

I don't think I would let people ho smear excrement on the walls of their cell blocks to have access to the main hall, either. As for the air conditioning, it's an infidel invention and Allah probably doesn't want you to be corrupted by it anyway.

One officer, Capt Ali Abdelzaher, said: "We have a problem with the financing for the food, not like the Americans, and there is a technical problem with the air conditioning."

One of the problems with imprisonement as opposed to execution is that it costs more to feed thugs than to hang them.

Capt Abdelzaher also confirmed that a number of inmates had been transferred from the Jadriyah detention centre, along with their guards and interrogators.

Oh, great, more mouths to feed.

Graphic stories of abuse at that previously secret facility emerged after US soldiers found 169 prisoners showing signs of torture last November.

Oddly enough, the media treated that case much less seriously than the pantyraid.

I don't like that catch and release thing either.

Yesterday, the International Red Cross confirmed that its visits to the prison had been suspended since January 2005 on security grounds.

Bet ya wished your terrorist groups could sign on to that Geneva Convention thing now.

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