UK jails 3 soldiers for Iraqi prison abuse

This photograph entered into evidence on January 18 at the Court Martial of three soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Osnabrueck, Germany, shows Lance corporal Darren Larkin standing on an Iraqi detainee and corporal Daniel Kenyon taking a photograph in the rear. Three British soldiers were jailed Friday for abusing Iraqi civilians in a case that has drawn comparisons with US mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison. PHOTO: AFP

The chief of Britain's army, General Sir Mike Jackson, apologised to the victims and the Iraqi people, and announced an inquiry into lessons that could be learned.

A newspaper embarrassed the authorities by locating victims that prosecutors had failed to find in a 20-month probe.

Without the victims' testimony, prosecutors were unable to convict anyone for staging the sex abuse which soldiers photographed during a crackdown on looters in Basra in May 2003.

Prisoners in the photos were stripped naked and forced to simulate anal and oral sex, mirroring notorious pictures of abuse taken by US troops at the Abu Ghraib jail.

"When you abused the power that you had over them as you did, you cannot expect much leniency," Judge Advocate Michael Hunter told the men. "What you have done is so serious that we would be failing in our duties if we did not impose substantial sentences and dismiss you all (from the army) with disgrace."

Daniel Kenyon was given an 18-month sentence for failing to report the sex abuse and two other charges. Mark Cooley was given two years for charges including suspending a trussed-up Iraqi from the prongs of a forklift truck. Darren Larkin was given five months for stomping on a bound man.