SCANDAL

Yemen to Investigate Claims of Abuse at Secret Prisons

As U.S. senators also call for probe into torture allegations.

The Yemeni government said Saturday it would investigate allegations that secret prisons in the south of the country were used to torture and abuse prisoners. The allegations were made in a report last week that said forces backed by the United Arab Emirates were using secret prisons inside military bases, private villas and even a nightclub to operate what was described by Amnesty International as a “network of torture” in the quest to root out al-Qaeda militants. Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr said a six-member committee headed by the justice minister will investigate “human rights allegations in liberated areas.” U.S. defense officials have confirmed that American forces were involved in interrogations at facilities in Yemen but said there was never any evidence of abuse when they were present. Several U.S. senators have called on Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to ensure the allegations are investigated on the American side.