Five Danes to Be Tried on Abuse Charges

A Danish intelligence officer and four military police sergeants will stand trial on charges of abusing Iraqi prisoners at a camp in Iraq, the Danish army said Friday.

Reserve Capt. Annemette Hommel and the four soldiers could face up to a year in prison if found guilty of breaking military law during interrogations last year, the army said.

Hommel, 37, was sent home in July, before her tour of duty was up, after colleagues complained about the way she interrogated prisoners. She has denied the abuse allegations.

No images of Danish abuse of prisoners have surfaced and many people still support the government’s backing of the war.

Army investigators said Hommel and the other soldiers subjected prisoners to ill treatment, including verbal humiliation, forcing them to maintain painful postures and restricting access to food, water and toilets.

Army investigators said the former Danish battalion commander in Iraq, Lt. Col. Henrik Flach, was under investigation for failing to pass on initial reports of the abuse.