He also followed Prime Minister Tony Blair in apologising to any Iraqis who had been badly treated.

But he cast doubt on pictures published by the Daily Mirror newspaper, which seemed to show prisoners being abused.

The newspaper hit back by saying Mr Hoon's comments were a bid to divert attention from the abuse allegations.

Mr Hoon faced a grilling from his fellow MPs in the question and answer session.

Some of them were concerned that Britain and the US were in danger of "losing the peace" because of the recent abuse claims.

Shock