Australia launches abuse inquiry

Australia has 1,000 troops in Afghanistan

The Australian military says it is probing allegations that its soldiers mistreated prisoners in Afghanistan.

A senior Afghan commander expressed concerns about the Australian soldiers' behaviour during a meeting with Nato-led forces, the military said.

The defence ministry did not give details of the charges. It said an inquiry has been ordered.

Australia has about 1,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of an international reconstruction effort.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has warned his country to expect more combat casualties in Afghanistan, after a commando was killed recently.

Lance Corporal Jason Marks became the fifth Australian soldier to die in recent months, after a gun battle with Taleban insurgents in Uruzgan province.

'Humane treatment'

"We take all of these claims very seriously and have consistently shown our willingness to be part of investigations into these matters," Australian National Commander for the Middle East, Major General Michael Hindmarsh, said in a statement.

"Our troops are well-versed in their procedures regarding the safe and humane treatment of detainees and we take our legal obligations in this regard extremely seriously," he said.

The Australian Defence Force did not give details of the nature of the allegations, but Australian Public Radio reported they centred around mistreatment of four alleged Taleban insurgents.

The four men were taken into custody after LCpl Jason Marks was killed in a battle on 27 April.

Four other troops were injured in the battle near the town of Tirin Kot.