Burned Iraqi children refused treatment

TOLEDO, Ohio, June 19 (UPI) -- A Congresswoman from Ohio says Defense Department officials promise to investigate a report of military doctors refusing to treat three burned Iraqi children.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, obtained the promise less than a week after an Ohio soldier in Iraq criticized the military's refusal to treat the children.

Kaptur told the Toledo Blade Thursday she has met with Defense Department officials and obtained assurances the incident will be investigated.

Ohio Army National Guard Sgt. David Borell, a military policeman, had sent email messages to the Blade saying U.S. Army physicians refused to help the children because their injuries were not "life threatening."

Kaptur said she also recommended Borell be promoted for bringing attention to the incident.

The newspaper quoted Kaptur as saying: "One of the ways you [establish security] in the country is to make friends with the people. One of the ways you do that is to provide health care."