Shamed US to hand over Abu Ghraib prison to Iraqis

American forces have agreed to hand over control of the infamous Abu Ghraib prison to the newly elected Iraqi authorities in an attempt to draw a line under one of the most shameful episodes of the Iraq war.

Iraq's human rights minister, Bakhtiar Amin, yesterday told the Guardian that the US had agreed to the pullout at the four main detention facilities, including Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad, the prison at the centre of the abuse and torture scandal.

Two other locations in the centre of Iraq and a British run prison in the south will also be handed over to Iraqi control, although no deadline has been set, Mr Amin said.

(snip)

US military officials in Baghdad could not be reached for comment yesterday. But on Tuesday an army official said US forces were considering pulling out of Abu Ghraib because of a spate of attacks on the facility by insurgents. Last April, a barrage of 28 mortar rounds killed 22 prisoners and injured 91.

The army official said the US would probably transfer only high security detainees in Abu Ghraib to another facility at the US base at Baghdad's airport, while the majority of the "common criminals" would remain under Iraqi control.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1434264,00.html

Highly debatable.

Perhaps Jesus has heard their prayers, and told them the kingdom of heaven is open to torturers, collateral damage specialists, and their fans.