THREE men who say they suffered a catalogue of abuse at the hands of military officers are relaunching their racial discrimination claim against the Army.

New regulations introduced this month will allow soldiers who suffer alleged racial abuse to take Army bosses to industrial tribunals for the first time.

Before October 1, only sex discrimination claims and pay disputes could go before tribunals.

But the new ruling paves the way for East Lancs men Waheed Anwar, Quisar Akbar and Shazaad Ahmed to continue their battle against military top brass.

They are making their claims to highlight the non-discriminatory "fallacy" of the Army, which prides itself on being an equal opportunities employer.

A major internal inquiry is also taking place into the claims.

The men, who enlisted in the Scots Guards, were together during their foundation course at the Army Training Regiment at Pirbright, Surrey, in February. It should have lasted four weeks.

Mr Anwar, 23, of Whalley Range, Blackburn, says he was the victim of physical and verbal abuse at the hands of senior instructors and left after only three days. Mr Ahmed, 20, of Accrington, left after only five days, while Mr Akbar, 18, of Gorse Road, Blackburn, lasted a couple of weeks.

Mr Anwar claimed his throat was squeezed by a senior officer, was threatened with jail if he did not continue an exercise routine and badly cut as he was used as a 'model' in a demonstration on how to shave properly.

The trio's legal adviser Yasin Mohammed, of Roger Pickles and Co, Richmond Terrace, Blackburn, said a fresh claim would be submitted in light of the new rules.

An Army spokesman said: "The case is being investigated by the Army Prosecution Authority who after thorough investigation will decide if charges are to be brought against any Army personnel.

"Since October 1 Army personnel can take cases under the Race Relations Act to an industrial tribunal after first having gone through the Army's internal redress of complaints procedure.

"This was one initiative in a package of measures unveiled by the Army to promote equal opportunities, boost ethnic minority recruitment and rid the Army of racism."

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