Morgue exposes regime brutality

HUNDREDS of human remains discovered

The skulls, bundles of bone in strips of military uniform, were dumped in plastic bags and unsealed hardboard coffins in an abandoned Iraqi military base on the outskirts of Al Zubayr.

It was impossible to say how long the remains had lain there but the discovery will now be investigated by forensic specialists as possible evidence of atrocities perpetrated by the Iraqi regime.

“This shows the brutality of the Iraqi regime,” said Ahmed Shames, chairman of the London-based Iraqi Prospect Organisation, a group set up by exiles from Iraq. Mr Shames said he believed the bodies were those of people who had fought for freedom against Saddam and were killed in uprisings. “I am afraid this may be the first of many of these morgues.”

The coffins were stacked five deep in a warehouse, and a neighbouring building contained apparent cells and catalogues of photographs of the dead, most of whom had died from gunshot wounds to the head.

Others were mutilated beyond recognition, their faces burned and swollen in the faded black and white photographs.

Outside stood what one soldier described as “a purpose-built shooting gallery”.

A tiled foot-high plinth stood in a courtyard, with the brickwork behind it riddled with bullets.

Inside the warehouse, one of the bags and coffins contained an identity card written in Arabic, while military webbing and boot soles were visible in others.

The discovery was made early yesterday by officers from the 3rd Regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery, who moved their AS90 guns to the location last night.