Nine bricklayers detained by security forces on suspicion of involvement with Iraqi insurgents suffocated to death while held for over 14 hours in a police van, an interior ministry official said.
Three other suspects, who survived the ordeal of being locked up in the metallic van in the burning sun, were taken to hospital yesterday morning where they were to be interviewed by authorities who are investigating the case.
The incident started Sunday in Ameriyah district, western Baghdad when one of 12 bricklayers sustained gunshots during a firefight between insurgents and police. His colleagues rushed him to a hospital in the Shuala district where he was pronounced dead. Iraqi police commandos then arrived at the hospital where they arrested the 11, along with one other man who was there accompanying his pregnant wife.
The suspects were taken to the commando headquarters in Baghdad where they were said to have been beaten and locked in the police van from 11am Sunday to 1am yesterday. There have been numerous allegations of brutality, particularly by police and special commandos, against detained insurgent suspects.
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