World News

Iraqi TV shows captured U.S. soldiers

Five captured U.S. soldiers were put in front of an Iraqi TV microphone and questioned March 23 in footage that also showed at least four bodies.

U.S. officials confirmed that 12 soldiers are missing after Iraqi forces ambushed an army supply convoy at a major crossing point over the Euphrates River northwest of Basra.

Army officials said they believe the interrogated soldiers were among the 12 who are missing.

The scenes of interrogators questioning four men and a woman were broadcast by the Arab satellite station Al-Jazeera with footage from state-controlled Iraqi television.

U.S. President George W. Bush said he did not have all the details, but added: "We expect them to be treated humanely, just like we'll treat any prisoners of theirs that we capture humanely. If not, the people who mistreat the prisoners will be treated as war criminals."

A spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross said the showing of the prisoners on TV violates the Geneva Conventions, which says prisoners should be protected from public curiosity. But she stressed that the priority at the moment is to get access to them.

One prisoner, who said he was from Texas, was shown lying on a mat. The camera panned from his feet to his head, showing one of his arms to be wounded.

Iraqi TV attempted to interview him, at one point trying to cradle his head to steady it for the camera. They eventually helped him sit up, but he seemed to sway slightly. The camera showed four bodies on the floor of the room.

Shukan ST: April 4, 2003

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