Calls Mount for Resignation of Canadian Defense Minister Over Afghan Prisoner Torture

[Hissyspit]

Source: AHN

Calls Mount For Resignation Of Canadian Defense Minister Over Afghan Prisoner Torture
December 9, 2009 6:19 a.m. EST

AHN Staff
Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - Calls continued to mount across Canada for the resignation of Defense Minister Peter MacKay over his poor handling of the torture and abuse cases against Afghan prisoners captured by Canadian military troops.

Aside from the political opposition - spearheaded by the New Democratic Party - which called for the booting of MacKay, 23 former ambassadors urged Ottawa to remove the defense secretary from his post because of his alleged knowledge about the torture which took place in 2006, but MacKay did not stop the transfer of detainees to Afghan authorities.

Diplomat Richard Colvin - who used to be assigned in Afghanistan and was transferred to Washington - had previously told a House of Commons committee that Canadian officials were warned of the tortures, but did not act on it. MacKay said Colvin's testimony was hearsay.

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