26/05/2003

Blair appoints human rights envoy on Iraq

Labour backbencher Ann Clwyd has been named as the UK's special envoy to Iraq on human rights.

The MP for Cynon Valley in Wales begins work in her new post tomorrow when she heads to Iraq on a fact-finding mission. She will report back to Tony Blair on breaches of human rights which occurred under the Ba'athist regime – such as what is understood to be the discovery of a mass grave in Karbala 10 days ago.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 earlier today, Mrs Clywd said: "Obviously I have been raising some of these issues over the last few weeks since the war ended, particularly the protection of the mass graves which are now being found outside Baghdad and almost outside every town and city in Iraq. In fact one Iraqi described it to me as one mass grave.

"I want to make sure that the sites are being properly protected so that we can collect the evidence against the people responsible."

Mrs Clwyd, a former journalist, has been an MP since Labour were swept to power in their 1997 landslide victory. She is also a member of the International Development Committee.

(GMcG)

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