Iraqis allegedly beaten by British soldiers demand compensation

At least two Iraqis claiming to have been beaten by British soldiers during a 2004 demonstration today said that they would take legal action against the British military and seek compensation.

The Iraqis told reporters they were among more than 200 people protesting against the lack of jobs in the Maysan provincial city of Amarah, 180 miles south-east of Baghdad, when a group of British soldiers fired rubber bullets at them and detained several before beating them at their nearby base.