[Guardian-UK] Rory McCarthy - Palestinian authorities have begun a rare military trial of security officers accused of torturing a Hamas suspect to death. Haitham Amr, 33, was arrested by the Palestinian intelligence services, led by Fatah, in June, suspected of membership in the armed wing of Hamas. Four days later he was dead, his body showing extensive bruising. He was the fourth prisoner to die in Palestinian custody in the West Bank this year. Three detainees have died in Hamas custody in Gaza this year. The deaths come at a time when a $161 million U.S.-led effort is under way in the West Bank to train several battalions of the Palestinian National Security Forces, in preparation for possible future statehood.
2009-10-06 08:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive