WikiLeaks founder urges US to investigate alleged abuses by its troops

LONDON - Julian Assange, the founder of the whistle blowing website ‘WikiLeaks’ has urged the US to investigate alleged abuses by its troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, saying it has a “proud tradition” of self-scrutiny.

His comments have come ahead of a big diplomatic set piece in Geneva tomorrow, when America’s human rights record comes under scrutiny before the UN human rights council for the first time.

According to the Guardian, Assange claimed that the US has not started any investigations into the alleged incidents detailed in thousands of documents published by WikiLeaks and has instead concentrated on tracking down those responsible for the leaks and on hounding his group.

Last month, his website published 400,000 US field reports containing evidence that US soldiers handed over detainees to a notorious Iraqi torture squad. This followed publication of 75,000 documents in the summer revealing how coalition forces killed hundreds of civilians in unreported incidents in Afghanistan.

Earlier this week, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast had said that his country was concerned about violations of human rights in western countries, particularly in the US, which would be pointed by them during the UN human rights council universal periodic review conference.

Over 300 human rights activist groups, including Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union, have issued a separate 400-page report claiming that protection of fundamental freedoms has eroded since 9/11, the paper said. (ANI)