Man's death in military custody reviewed

LONDON, July 13 (UPI) -- A public inquiry opened in London Monday into the death of an Iraqi man while he was in British military custody in Iraq.

Six soldiers were cleared in a court-martial of war crimes in the death of Baha Mousa, a hotel receptionist who sustained 93 injuries while being held by soldiers in 2003, The Times of London reported. However, a separate legal action led the British government to pay Mousa's family a share of $4.5 million in compensation.

Soldiers testifying in the inquiry -- expected to last a year -- have been granted immunity from prosecution. The British Defense Ministry said it won't discipline soldiers if it is proven they lied or omitted information at their trial.

The inquiry will also look into the army's use of so-called conditioning techniques to soften up prisoners for interrogation, The Times said.