Blair held liable for traumatized troops

LONDON, March 11 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been blamed for a lack of appropriate mental health care for stressed troops, the Independent on Sunday said.

An open letter published in the newspaper said that the British government had not offered adequate care to troops returning from overseas and called on Blair to push for increased benefits for those individuals.

"Servicemen and women are receiving insufficient treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder," the letter said. "Many are desperately ill, out of work, homeless and even suicidal. We believe that the military covenant is broken, and that you have neglected the young men and women who carry out your orders."

An accompanying investigation by Independent found that of the more than 21,000 British troops who have served in Iraq since 2003, two dozen likely killed themselves.

While the general public will be able to sign the letter before it is given to Blair on Mar. 20, several political and entertainment leaders have already lent their names.

The newspaper said parliament members Ben Wallace and Peter Kilfoyle have offered their signatures to the cause, as has playwright Harold Pinter and human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger.