The Pentagon is pursuing five separate investigations into claims that Iraqi prisoners were abused.

The chief of the US Army Reserve said he has ordered a study of whether reservists are sufficiently trained in ethical conduct and how to treat prisoners following the release of photographs allegedly showing Iraqi PoWs being abused by US soldiers.

MORE than 10,000 part-time troops have been ordered to prepare for active duty and movement overseas beginning as early as this week to support a US military build-up near Iraq, Army officials said yesterday.