Fed: US inquiry censures Australian lawyer over Abu Ghraib

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2004
Fed: US inquiry censures Australian lawyer over Abu Ghraib

Australian military lawyer GEORGE O'KANE has been criticised by a US army investigation
for responding inadequately to early Red Cross warnings about the abuse of inmates at
Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.

At the time of the abuses, Major O'KANE was stationed at coalition military headquarters
in Baghdad.

He was in charge of liaising with the Red Cross and responding to its complaints.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the US report says a letter replying to Red
Cross concerns last December, of which Major O'KANE was the primary author, glossed over
the organisation's concerns.

The newspaper reports that American investigators were unable to interview Major O'KANE,
and suggest attempts to do so were blocked by the HOWARD government.

Major O'KANE also failed to respond to written questions in time.

The paper says the US report raises questions about government assurances that Australians
did all they could to make life better for Iraqi prisoners and that there has been no
attempt to cover up Major O'Kane's activities.

AAP RTV ka/rp

KEYWORD: IRAQ PRISONERS AUST (SYDNEY)

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