http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1213iraq-torture13.html

Iraqi premier says torture is unacceptable

Washington Post Dec. 13, 2005 12:00 AM

BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said Monday that he will not tolerate torture by the Shiite-dominated government police forces, renewing his condemnation of the practice after U.S. and Iraqi forces found abused, starved detainees at an Interior Ministry detention center.

U.S. and Iraqi officials said Sunday that they had discovered about a dozen cases of what an Iraqi official called "severe torture" at a prison run by the Interior Ministry's special police commandos.

Prisoners' bones were broken and their fingernails pulled out, they were subjected to electric shocks and had burning cigarettes crushed into their necks and backs, said the Iraqi official, who U.S. officials said had firsthand knowledge of the torture.

The Iraqi official spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing retribution.

The cases appeared more severe than those of beaten, emaciated prisoners found in the basement of another Interior Ministry facility last month.