Iraqi tools of torture revealed

TOOLS of torture that Saddam Hussein’s son, Uday, used to punish underperforming Iraqi athletes were displayed yesterday at a Baghdad sports stadium in advance of the Olympic Games next month.

Journalists were shown mediaeval-style torture equipment, including an “iron maiden-like” casket with metal spikes fixed to the inside that athletes had been forced into and chain whips with steel barbs the size of tennis balls attached to the end.

“During the old regime, Uday was looking for results and he wanted winners. He didn’t like second place,” said Talib Mutan, an Iraqi Olympics Committee official.