United states condemns 'abuse' of 170 Baghdad Prisoners

Published on 16/11/2005 12:05

THE US has condemned the alleged abuse of more than 170 detainees held by Iraqi security forces in Baghdad, and backed an investigation.

The state department said the US did not practice torture and did not believe others should either.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari has ordered an investigation into the alleged abuse of the detainees. The prisoners, many malnourished and some showing signs of apparent torture, were found by US troops on Sunday.

The allegations come as the US faces mounting international pressure to be more transparent about the treatment of prisoners in its war on terror.

The Bush administration has been swift to distance itself from these latest reports.

The US is backing the Iraqi government inquiry and believes those responsible for mistreatment should be held to account. However, fresh allegations have also surfaced of US troops mistreating detainees.

Two former Iraqi prisoners have told US TV they were beaten, fired at with rubber bullets and subjected to mock executions at the hands of US troops in 2003.

While the US insists that it does not condone torture, it has lobbied against legislation that would ban all inhumane treatment of detainees.