HUNDREDS of Iraqi policemen were poisoned and up to seven were reported dead yesterday after eating rotten meat at their base’s mess hall.

The defence ministry said that about 400 were affected at the army and police training camp of Numaniyah, near the town of Kut, south of Baghdad. Officers at the base said, however, that about 1,300 fell ill soon after eating a meal on Monday night to break their daily Ramadan fast.

Iraqi staff at the base accused senior officials of skimming more than 50 percent off the mess budget and providing poor food to the recruits. They said the local hospital was overwhelmed by victims in a case reminiscent of the corruption and poor rations prevalent in Saddam Hussein’s army.

A number of people were arrested, including the man in charge of the mess hall, said a ministry spokesman. He said that the mess halls were operated under a contract with an Australian company which subcontracted to an Iraqi firm.

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