LONDON,
May 22 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - A top British army
officer, now being quizzed questioned by the army's Special
Investigations Branch, denied Thursday, May 22, accusations on
torturing Iraqi prisoners of war and mistreating civic leaders.
In
an interview with the Daily Mirror, Lieutenant Colonel Tim
Collins said he was "astonished" by the charges published by
The Sun newspaper on Wednesday, May 21.
"I
have no idea how they came about. I don't wish to say anything to
prejudice the investigation," Collins told the tabloid, adding
that he was confident of clearing his name.
Lieutenant
Collins, whose stirring speech to his troops on the eve of the
U.S.-led war was praised by Prince Charles and U.S. President George
W. Bush, is being questioned by the army's Special Investigations
Branch, defence sources told The Sun Thursday.
"We
can confirm that an investigation is being conducted into allegations
that have been made against a British officer who was serving in
Iraq," a defence ministry spokesman said.
According
to The Sun, military investigators are probing charges that
Collins punched, kicked and threatened captured Iraqi soldiers;
pistol-whipped an Iraqi civic leader; fired at the ground near Iraqi
civilians; and unnecessarily shot the tyres of vehicles.
Collins,
43, was commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish
Regiment during the U.S.-led war.
He
galvanised his infantry troops on the eve of the battle with a speech
in Kuwait in which he urged them to do their duty while treating the
enemy with respect.
"There
are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive
shortly," he said.
"Those
who do not wish to go on that journey we will not send. As for the
others, I expect you to rock their world," he told his soldiers.
"Wipe
them out if that is what they choose. But if you are ferocious in
battle remember to be magnanimous in victory," Collins said.
Reports
of U.S.-British torturing of Iraqi civilian have been rife with the
BBC News Online reporting Thursday that uncooperative Iraq prisoners
are being exposed for prolonged periods to tracks by rock group
Metallica and music from children's TV programs Sesame Street and
Barney in the hope of making them talk.
