CAIRO, July 3, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – British and American aid to Iraq's Police Service (IPS) is channeled to commando units infamous for committing serious human rights abuses against anti-occupation parties, a leading British newspaper revealed on Sunday, July 3.

IPS officers told The Observer that ammunition, weapons and vehicles are being diverted to Iraqi paramilitary commando units (shock commandos), accused of torture and extra-judicial killings.

The British Ministry of Defense said it has spent £27 million in gift aid on the Iraqi security services, including guns, ammunition, and public order equipment such as protective vests and armored Land Rovers.

Photographic evidence of post mortem and hospital examinations seen by the British daily demonstrated abuses conducted by the commando units including burning, strangulations, the breaking of limbs and – in one case – the apparent use of an electric drill to perform a knee-capping.

A wide-ranging investigation by the British daily revealed that serious abuses have taken place within the walls of the Iraqi government's own Ministry of Interior.

Steve Crawshaw of Human Rights Watch also confirmed such a conclusion.

"There has been the attempt to suggest that because Saddam's regime is over now everything is rosy in Iraq. What is happening in official places in Iraq is simply horrific and must be stopped," he said.

Violent interrogation methods have been used by the Iraqi forces including hanging by the arms, burnings, beatings, the use of electric shocks and sexual abuses against anti-occupation forces, according to The Observer's investigation.

The revelation raises questions about the British government's commitment to denying aid to governments that tolerate or encourage rights abuses.

Liberal Democrat defense spokesman Michael Moore called on ministers to make an immediate statement in the House of Commons.

"These are serious reports that go to the heart of the question of the coalition's oversight of the security situation in Iraq. The Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defense must urgently inform Parliament about the scope of their investigation into these allegations," he said.

The Foreign Office said Saturday, June 2, that it was taking the reports of abuse "very seriously".

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense told the daily that the issue was raised with the Iraqi government.

"We are aware of the allegations. We have raised this with the Iraqi government at the highest levels in Baghdad and Basra."

A January 25, report by Human Rights Watch revealed that Iraqis were tortured and abused at the hands of the former US-picked interim government of Iyad Allawi.