5 Arrested in Torture Death of Palestinian

Palestinian police arrested the head of Palestinian military intelligence in Nablus and two interrogators suspected of torturing a prisoner to death, a police official said Sunday.

Two officials in the Nablus governor’s office were also arrested.

Capt. Hani Ayad, head of Nablus military intelligence, was being held along with two of his interrogators after an arrest warrant was issued by Palestinian Prosecutor General Khaled Kidra and approved by Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Ayad and his interrogators are suspected of beating Yousef Baba, 32, who died earlier this month in Nablus’ Rafidiyah Hospital after being held for a month without charge.

Also arrested were Nablus Deputy Gov. Abdel Muti Sadik and Bassam Hilu, director general of the governor’s office, an official in the governor’s office said. There was no immediate explanation for their arrests.

Baba’s family has said he was arrested because he refused to sell a plot of land to Palestinian police.

Two nurses were arrested earlier in connection with the disappearance of Baba’s medical file after doctors performed an autopsy.

Officials have said the autopsy found that Baba was tortured to death. Arafat ordered an investigation, which led to the arrests.

Baba was the 11th Palestinian to die in detention since the start of self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. His death prompted new criticism of the Palestinian Authority’s human rights record.