[JURIST] The US-led Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) said [press release] Saturday that six civilian detainees had been killed and at least 50 injured as the result of an "indirect fire" attack on the US-operated Camp Bucca [Wikipedia backgrounder; JURIST news archive] detention facility. In April, the Washington Post reported that the there are approximately 18,000 detainees [JURIST news archive] held at Camp Bucca and another large US-run Iraq prison called Camp Cropper [Wikipedia backgrounder; JURIST news archive]. In May, the Washington Post reported that security plans [AFPS report] implemented since February by the MNF-I have contributed to overcrowding in Iraq prisons [JURIST report].

Allegations of detainee abuse [JURIST news archive] have increased as officials struggle to deal with the influx of detainees. The security plans, formally known as "Operation Law and Order" and commonly referred to in the US as the "troop surge," are intended to increase security and stability in Baghdad and Al Anbar province; they were instituted shortly after Gen. David H. Petraeus [official profile] assumed command of the MNF-I. AP has more.