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Saturday 28 March 2009

Suicide watch for soldiers in Iraq

An unprecedented "suicide watch" has been launched by commanders at Britain's main military base in Iraq following the deaths of three soldiers.

An investigation has been launched to discover whether the soldiers, who died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, were suffering from Post Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD).

Members of the Royal Military Police (RMP) Special Investigation Branch (SIB) are also trying to establish whether their was any link between the three deaths which occurred during a ten-week period between December 2008 and February 2009.

Investigators will also try and determine whether the deaths of Private Ryan Wrathall, 21, Corporal Lee Churcher, 32, and LCpl David Wilson, 27, were accidental or suicide.

Following the third death in February, commanders launched a poster campaign calling for troops to keep a close watch on colleagues who appear to be exhibiting suicidal behaviour, mood swings and symptoms of PTSD. More