Abu Ghraib dog use 'lacked rules'

Images of Abu Ghraib abuse have shocked the world

The use of dogs at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq where detainees were abused by US guards was not properly controlled, a former top commander there has said.

Col Thomas Pappas told a hearing he regretted not setting "appropriate controls" at the jail near Baghdad.

He was testifying at the court martial of Sgt Michael Smith, an army dog handler accused of abusing detainees.

Sgt Smith faces 13 charges. Col Pappas was himself reprimanded and fined last May for dereliction of duty.

Col Pappas was found guilty of two counts, including that of allowing dogs to be present during interrogations at the prison, and was relieved of his command of the Germany-based 205th Military Intelligence Brigade.

'Exploit fear'

Col Pappas, former commander of military intelligence personnel at Abu Ghraib, was given immunity to testify for the defence at Sgt Smith's court martial on Wednesday.

"If I had to list my biggest failure, I think it was not setting appropriate controls," he told the hearing.

"In hindsight, clearly we probably needed to establish some definitive rules and put out some clear guidance to everybody concerned."

He admitted under cross-examination that a photograph showing Sgt Smith's dog, without a muzzle, straining at its leash close to a prisoner's face was not consistent with any policy or guidance.

Interrogation techniques at the prison included a tactic to "exploit Arab fear of dogs", which was recommended in a policy dated 14 September 2003.

Sgt Michael Smith, pictured with one of his lawyers, faces 13 charges

Col Pappas told the court martial at Fort George G Meade, Maryland, that dogs were to be used "to assist in setting conditions for interrogations".

Defence lawyers argue Sgt Smith, 24, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was following his training and instructions in his use of dogs.

But prosecutors have claimed he and another dog handler, Sgt Santos Cardona, had tormented prisoners for their own amusement.

Sgt Smith could face up to 24 years and six months in prison if convicted on all counts. Sgt Cardona, 31, of Fullerton, California, will stand trial in May.

At Col Pappas's court martial last year, he was fined $8,000 (£4,274) after failing to get the necessary approval before sanctioning the presence of dogs during an interrogation.

He was also found guilty of failing to "ensure that subordinates were adequately informed of, trained upon and supervised in the application of interrogation procedures".