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ABC News Australia | June 10 2004 US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is expected to replace the two-star general investigating the prisoner abuse scandal at Iraq's Abu Ghraib jail with a more senior officer, The New York Times reports. Defence officials told the daily that General John Abizaid, commander of US forces in the Middle East, has asked for the change because army regulations prevent the investigator, General George Fay, from interviewing his superiors. Gen Fay has said he could not complete his investigation without interviewing the ground commander in Iraq, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez. Lt Gen Sanchez has recused himself as the reviewing authority for Gen Fay's report. The daily says he has asked Gen Abizaid that a higher ranking officer be appointed to conduct and review the investigation. Defence officials say Gen Abizaid made the request to Mr Rumsfeld who will most likely approve it. The daily has been told Gen Fay's final report is delayed by 30 days as an important witness who has refused to cooperate has changed his mind and agreed to work more closely with investigators. The identity of the witness has not been revealed and army officials insist Gen Sanchez is not a target of the investigation. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told the daily that Gen Sanchez has recused himself from the probe "to ensure that there was a complete, thorough and transparent investigation that leaves no doubt as to the veracity of its findings." Seven low-ranking US soldiers have so far been charged with prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib jail - one has been sentenced, despite their insistence that they were following orders.
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