Army training changes recommended; report

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Jan 25, 2008, 11:09 GMT

(M&C) - Changes to army training in the treatment of prisoners is one of the recommendations handed down by a senior army officer in a report.

Brig Robert Aitken also said the Army must ensure procedures are followed in accordance with regulations in a report into the death of Iraqi Baha Mousa, who died in custody with 93 injuries in 2003.

Brig Aitken recommended changes in three areas:

The Army must learn from the disciplinary process, in the same way as it does from other areas of its operations; must find ways to ingrain its high standards, values and standards of behaviour in its personnel and must make sure administrative processes were used correctly.

The BBC reports Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the Army's chief of the general staff, as saying: "I'm extremely proud of what our soldiers have been doing in Iraq and Afghanistan in very difficult circumstances."

"But I take no pride in the activities of a very small number of our soldiers who have been found guilty of abuse in Iraq in 2003, 2004."

"We've reflected in this report on those events, we've endeavoured to learn from our experiences, change some of our processes of training and the way we prepare, educate and train our soldiers for these operations."

"I'm now satisfied that the standards of behaviour are understood by all our people as they operate today in the difficult circumstances of Iraq and Afghanistan."