Ex-ministers at Iraqi death inquiry

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Those being required to make witness statements for the Baha Mousa Inquiry are understood to include ex-defence secretary Geoff Hoon and ex-armed forces minister Adam Ingram.

Mr Hoon and Mr Ingram are also expected to be called to give evidence in person about why UK troops used prisoner-handling techniques in Iraq that were banned 30 years earlier.

Lawyers involved in the case previously suggested that former attorney general Lord Goldsmith could be asked to appear as a witness as well.

The inquiry is investigating allegations that British soldiers beat to death hotel receptionist Baha Mousa, 26, in Basra, southern Iraq, in September 2003.

It has heard that the troops used "conditioning" methods on Iraqi prisoners such as hooding, sleep deprivation and making them stand in painful stress positions with their knees bent and hands outstretched.

These techniques were outlawed by the Government in 1972 after an investigation into interrogation in Northern Ireland.

Then-prime minister Edward Heath told MPs that any future Government wanting to authorise conditioning would probably have to ask Parliament for the powers to do so.

The inquiry is currently looking at who in the chain of command told British soldiers serving in Iraq in 2003 they could use these banned methods.

Lord Goldsmith, the Government's chief legal adviser at the time, insisted that the authorisation did not come from him. Mr Hoon, defence secretary from 1999 to 2005, and Mr Ingram, armed forces minister from 2001 to 2007, are expected to be asked whether they knew these banned techniques were being used.