Met refuses to probe Iraq detainee deaths

The Metropolitan Police is not prepared to investigate allegations that British troops tortured and murdered Iraqi detainees, lawyers said today.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth recently agreed at a High Court hearing a fresh investigation was necessary.

The court had been hearing a legal challenge over the MoD's refusal to set up an independent inquiry into allegations that up to 20 Iraqis were murdered at Camp Abu Naji, a British base in southern Iraq, in 2004. Five other Iraqis say they were subjected to ill treatment at the base.

Three senior judges are expected to give a formal ruling tomorrow, and also ask for an update on the progress being made in setting up an inquiry.

The Metropolitan Police were approached to see if they would take charge of the inquiry but today Public Interest Lawyers, acting on behalf of the Iraqis, said the Met had indicated it was not prepared to take on the investigation.