Laughing troops 'tortured Iraqis'

LAUGHING British soldiers tortured Iraqi detainees by beating and kicking them, pouring freezing water on their heads and forcing them to recite names of English and Dutch football stars, a court heard yesterday.

The accusations - which throw the spotlight back on troop behaviour in the US-led occupation - came from an Iraqi witness at London's High Court where families of six dead civilians have launched a test case against British soldiers.

"The soldiers appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves as the beating was accompanied by laughter," said Kifah Taha al-Mutari. He was arrested in September 2003 along with one of the six dead Iraqis, Baha Mousa, in a raid on a hotel in Basra.