UN urges Iraq, US to address human rights abuses

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The United Nations on Wednesday urged the Iraqi government and U.S.-led multinational forces to address human rights violations amid increasing reports of prisoner abuse. Iraq's government has been under pressure over its human rights record since American troops stumbled across a secret bunker run by the Interior Ministry last month where prisoners showed signs of torture and malnutrition.

Since then, prisoners showing signs of abuse have been found in another Iraqi jail. The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq has also faced high-profile prisoner abuse scandals. Ibrahim Gambari, the U.N. undersecretary-general for political affairs, told the U.N. Security Council the human rights situation in Iraq required "urgent action" by multinational forces and the government.

"We welcome the commitment of the multinational force to take initial corrective steps, particularly with regard to the issue of detainees, and urge the Iraqi government to follow up on its announced actions to address this serious situation," Gambari said during a meeting on Iraq. The discovery of the mostly Sunni Arab prisoners has fueled sectarian tensions ahead of Thursday's election, which the United States hopes will ease the country's bloodshed.

In response, Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations Samir al-Sumaidaie told the council and reporters later the violations did not "represent a policy or a pattern the government will follow." "But we understand we have a problem. We have a lot of people who were policemen and brought up in a culture of lawlessness" under Saddam Hussein, he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051215/wl_nm/iraq_un_rights_dc_2