MoD concern over torture claims

Iraqi police are often targeted by insurgents

The Ministry of Defence says it will press Iraq to investigate claims of torture by security forces after a report that UK aid was being misused.

The Observer said US and British aid meant for the Iraqi police was being used by paramilitary commandos.

It said it had seen photos of post-mortem examinations of torture suspects which showed serious abuse.

The MoD said it was "deeply concerned" and had raised the allegations of abuse with the Iraqi government.

The Observer said it had evidence that suspects had been subject to burning, strangulation, sexual abuse, hanging by the arms, the breaking of limbs and - in one case - the use of an electric drill for a knee-capping.

Since the end of the Iraq war the MoD has spent £27m on aid to the Iraqi police for guns, ammunition, vehicles and body armour.

But the Observer said aid had ended up in the hands of commandos operating out of Iraq's Ministry of the interior.

It alleged there was a secret network of "ghost" detention centres, and that torture had even gone on within the Ministry of the Interior itself.

Prompt investigation

An MoD spokesman said: "As soon as we became aware of these allegations we raised them with the Iraqi government at the highest levels in Baghdad and Basra.

"We hope and expect them to investigate abuse allegations promptly, prosecute those suspected of abuse and punish those found guilty, regardless of rank or background and take measures to prevent recurrence."

"Supporting the Iraqi police is an integral part of the mission of maintaining law and order," said the spokesman.

And he added: "As a sovereign state, the matters are for the Iraqi Government and the Iraqi Police Service to deal with.

"Multi-national forces condemn all illegal activity and would expect the Iraqi police to do the same."

The Iraqi police are among the main targets for insurgents with frequent attacks and suicide bombings on recruiting centres and other sites where officers gather.