Daily Says Torture Photos Involve German Soldiers in Kosovo

The German Defense Ministry is investigating rumors about the existence of torture photos involving German peacekeepers in Kosovo. German mass-selling daily Bild reported on Thursday that photographs depicting torture scenes were circulating in the international KFOR peacekeeping force and that German soldiers were allegedly involved. The newspaper, however, doesn't have the aforementioned photographs. The defense ministry has refused to comment on the allegations. Defense expert for the opposition Christian Social Union, Christian Schmidt demanded "a full explanation of the affair without any cover-up" in the Bild. "We owe it to our soldiers and citizens," he said. On Thursday the German parliament is expected to make a decision on extending the German army's deployment in Kosovo. At present, there are 3,900 soldiers among the 17,500-strong KFOR contingent in the region.