Iraqis say British Army used Guantánamo interrogation methods

Dozens of prisoners held at a secret British army interrogation center in Iraq claim they suffered unlawful physical and mental abuse similar to that carried out by the US on detainees at Guantánamo Bay. Inmates at the high-security compound within the Shaibah base say they were held in solitary confinement and forced to wear dark goggles and earmuffs when taken from their cells for questioning. The Ministry of Defense came under pressure yesterday to order an inquiry into allegations that soldiers used the banned "five techniques" of interrogation on civilian detainees. It is investigating allegations from more than 30 former prisoners that they were also prevented from sleeping during days of intense questioning; were forced to adopt painful stress positions; and were refused food and water. Hundreds of prisoners were held at the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility compound run by the Joint Forward Interrogation Team at the Shaibah base, 13 miles from Basra in southern Iraq. After being interrogated while in solitary confinement, many were moved to the "general population" where they were often held for many months.