£1million payout for nine Iraqis abused by British troops

Nine Iraqis who were abused, assaulted and humiliated by British troops have been given more than £100,000 each in compensation. The massive payout - a total of nearly £1million - has been awarded after lengthy wrangles with Ministry of Defence lawyers. The cash is a fortune in Iraq where the average wage is £120 a month. The award follows revelations in 2003 of squaddies stripping Iraqis naked and trussing them up in fishing nets. The young men were forced to simulate sex acts on each other, and one was hoisted into the air with a forklift truck. Three soldiers were court martialled and jailed in 2005 and thrown out of the Army in disgrace. The incidents came to light after a soldier took a film containing pictures of the abuse to a developers in Tamworth, Staffs. Staff alerted police after seeing the sickening prints. Last night an MoD source confirmed: "Papers have now been signed and compensation will be distributed to the men."