Some Guantanamo Bay detainees deemed not to pose a security threat could be released without first having access to civilian courts, a US Defence spokesman said.

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

US Marines began pulling back from some positions around the besieged Iraqi city of Fallujah today, according to unconfirmed reports.

US forces in Iraq have captured one of the most senior members of Ansar al-Islam, an extremist group suspected of having ties to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network, US defence officials said.