Amnesty criticises allies

AMNESTY International yesterday accused Britain and the US of working harder to protect Iraq’s oil wells than the Iraqi people.

The coalition must live up to its promises that the war against Saddam Hussein was based in part on protecting the human rights of the Iraqi population, the organisation said.

Amnesty warned Britain and the US would only have limited powers under international law to change Iraq’s systems of government, and called for the UN to play a leading role in reforming and rebuilding the country as soon as possible.

Amnesty’s general secretary Irene Khan criticised a lack of advanced planning by the coalition

Speaking at a press conference in central London, she said: “There seems to have been more preparation to protect the oil wells than to protect hospitals, water systems or civilians.”

Ms Khan said the coalition should send in police, and military police to help tackle the lawlessness in the country, which as occupying powers Britain and the US were responsible for stopping.

In a report published yesterday, Amnesty called on the UN to deploy human rights monitors throughout Iraq as soon as the security situation allows.