Saturday, 10 May 2014

RAF probe over 'Dead Taliban' pictures

10 may 2014 last changed to 07:58 A photograph showing a man in uniform giving a thumbs-up it is not clear whether the same soldier in both images is photos that appear to show, at least a UK soldier posing with a dead Taliban fighters be treated "very seriously", says the RAF.

The images were taken over 2012 bastion, UK forces main base in Afghanistan after an attack on the camp. She first appeared on the website live leak.

Two members of the RAF Regiment were withdrawn from front line duties.

The revenue from so-called trophy photos is strictly prohibited and military police are investigating.

The pictures show some damage in the attack, but the two seem at least a member of the RAF Regiment type to show a thumbs up sign while kneeling next to the bloody bodies of dead insurgents.

It is not clear whether the same soldier in both pictures.

The RAF Regiment is the ground fighting force of the Royal Air Force.

It is believed that the soldier or soldiers - from 51 Squadron are. The Squadron, based in Moray, was involved in the camp to defend bastion during the attack.

The RAF had a "zero-tolerance policy on abuse of deceased enemy personnel", said a spokesman, adding that the case was treated "very seriously" and the focus of investigations RAF police.

BBC World Affairs correspondent Paul Adams said much will depend on what the investigators of the pictures make. There is no suggestion the fighter has been shot in cold blood or abused then, but the incident could constitute a violation of the Geneva Conventions, our correspondent said.

A photograph showing a man in uniform giving a thumbs-up over what appears to be the dead body of another manThe RAF said it had a "zero tolerance policy" on abuse of dead enemies  A photograph showing a man in uniform giving a thumbs-up over what appears to be the dead body of another man was a military investigation into the incident

Joanne Mariner, Director of law and policy at Amnesty International, said that article 3 of the Geneva conventions prohibited the "disrespectful and degrading treatment of the organs of the dead combatants".

"There must be a thorough and impartial investigation of this incident. It is encouraging to learn that the UK military has instigated a, "she said.

A Harrier aircraft which has been severely damagedSix Harrier aircraft in the US were 2012 attack on Camp Bastion destroyed.

The staff, which now exposed served last month on live back in Afghanistan, was the photos of the light leak, a Web site, by soldiers from various countries to the photographs of incidents during their deployments to send.

Colonel Richard Kemp, former Commander of British forces in Afghanistan, so it seemed a "clear violation" of the policy have been.

He told BBC Radio 4 today programme: "the armed forces allow no soldiers to show lack of respect for the dead by their enemy and they allow not the close-up photos of dead enemy fighters."

"And in fact, as I understand it, the policy was at the time in Camp Bastion, that soldiers were not allowed, cameras or cell phones to have."

Col Kemp he said the pictures to see more outrage in Britain when winning in Afghanistan expected added that "much worse" happens in Afghanistan.

However, he warned that the Taliban was likely to take advantage of the situation for propaganda.

Two U.S. Marines were killed, and a number of British soldiers have been injured and six U.S. Harrier jets destroyed in the September 2012-attack on Camp Bastion, in Helmand province were.

Col Kemp said that he did not condone the photographs in any way added: "here in the UK two years later it seems disturbing us, but if you remember, these soldiers were under threat of her life... I guess, what we see here is they are still alive, at the end of it a sense of elation. "

Peter Felstead, editor of Jane's Defence Weekly, said he was not convinced that apparently show the photographs, fraud, a violation of the Geneva Convention.

He told BBC Radio 5 live breakfast: "I don't think it does, and we run the risk of placing code of conduct, you would be in a civilian environment on the battlefield - right or wrong and you'll get, if you try this, in complicated area."

A report by MPs published last month said British commanders "a degree of responsibility for the failure that must take RAID to prevent". Prince Harry served in the camp as a member of the Army Air Corps at the time.


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