Written question asked by Harold Best (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 July 2003. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Thursday, 10 July 2003 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on information gathered by the Department's forensic team in Iraq about Iraqi citizens who have disappeared; and what assistance his Department is seeking from human rights organisations in uncovering the fate of such people.

Answer: Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on information gathered by the Department's forensic team in Iraq about Iraqi citizens who have disappeared; and what assistance his Department is seeking from human rights organisations in uncovering the fate of such people. [123690] Mr. Rammell: We are currently studying the recommendations of the team of forensic experts that we sent to Iraq. Their proposals include establishing an identification programme for bodies found in mass graves. We are in regular contact with human rights organisations on these issues. The Coalition Provisional Authority are setting up an Office of Human Rights and Transitional Justice in Iraq, whose tasks will include liaison with non-governmental organisations on human rights issues.

Secondary information