Bombers kill 74 at two mosques in Iraq
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-19 01:04

Also Friday, the top U.N. human rights official called for an international investigation into the conditions of detainees in Iraq following the alleged abuse of those found at the Interior Ministry building.

An Iraqi soldier calls for help as his colleagues inspect the site where two car bombs exploded near a Baghdad hotel. At least 67 worshippers were killed in suicide attacks on two Shiite mosques in eastern Iraq near the border with Iran, hours after suicide bombers killed six people outside a Baghdad hotel. [AFP]

"In light of the apparently systemic nature and magnitude of that problem, and the importance of public confidence in any inquiry, I urge authorities to consider calling for an international inquiry," said Louise Arbour, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Prominent Sunni Arabs have complained for months about abuse by Interior Ministry forces, whom they claim have been infiltrated by Shiite militias. The Sunnis called for an international investigation after the Jadriyah detainees were found.

The government denies the militia allegations.

"I reject torture and I will punish those who perform torture," said Interior Minister Bayn Jabr, a Shiite. "No one was beheaded, no one was killed."

He also said "those who are supporting terrorism are making the exaggerations" about torture and that only seven detainees showed signs of abuse.

The U.S. Embassy said Thursday that Iraqi authorities had given assurances that they will investigate the conditions of detainees found Sunday night and that the abuse of prisoners "will not be tolerated by either the Iraqi government" or U.S.-led forces anywhere in the country.

U.S. officials have refused to say how many detainees showed signs of torture and whether most were Sunnis, pending completion of an Iraqi investigation.

In another setback for sectarian reconciliation, the leader of Iraq's largest Shiite political party will not attend an Arab League meeting this weekend in Egypt, his spokesman said Friday. The 22-member Arab League has invited some 100 prominent Iraqis for the preliminary meeting ahead of a planned reconciliation conference, probably to be held early next year in Iraq.

The head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, will not attend, his party said. Instead, the delegation will be headed by Sheik Humam Hammoudi, said the group's spokesman, Haitham al-Husseini.