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Berlin-Washington Tensions

US Soldiers Allegedly Mishandled Workers at German Embassy in Iraq

Germany's top diplomat in Baghdad claims in a classified report that American soldiers mishandled three workers at the German embassy in the Iraqi capital. The incident has created new tensions in Berlin-Washington relations.

An incident between American soldiers and three Iraqi workers at the German embassy in Baghdad has created new tensions between Berlin and Washington, SPIEGEL reports in advance of its Monday issue.

According to a classified report sent by German Ambassador to Iraq Hanns Schumacher to the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, three off-duty Iraqi security guards were temporarily taken into custody in Baghdad and allegedly mishandled. A third was taken by the Americans and detained for four months at a prison camp near Basra.

After receiving complaints from German diplomats, two of the security personal, who claim to have been mishandled, received financial compensation. So far, however, the Americans have not apologized to the Iraqi taken to Basra. The German diplomatic mission to Iraq currently employs about 120 Iraqis, who mostly provide security to embassy facilities.

dsl/spiegel