The US Army is trying to “cover up” widespread abuse of prisoners at Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib jail, a witness in the investigation claimed today.

US ADMINISTRATOR Paul Bremer first heard of allegations that troops were mistreating Iraqi captives at Abu Ghraib prison in January, a spokesman said yesterday.

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

Seven American officers have been reprimanded in connection with the abuse of Iraqi prisoners carried out by guards at Baghdad’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison.

THE US and Britain denounced the abuse of Iraqi detainees by US forces and vowed to punish those responsible as the Arab world reacted angrily to photographs from inside an Iraqi prison shown by CBS television in America.

IRAQI leaders launched hurried negotiations yesterday aimed at averting a US assault on the city of Najaf, the location of the holiest Shiite site, the Imam Ali Shrine.

Seventeen American soldiers have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation into alleged allegations of abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

A SERIES of roadside attacks in Iraq killed a local security officer and wounded at least 13 other people yesterday as insurgents mounted fresh strikes against Iraqis seen as collaborating with US forces.

Saddam Hussein’s capture marks the “beginning of the end” for resistance against US forces in Iraq, security experts predicted today.

The capture of Saddam Hussein involved a massive military operation in which US forces stormed the hiding place of the former Iraqi dictator.

Gunmen ambushed a team of Spanish intelligence officers, killing seven agents in a bloody new attack on US allies in Iraq. There were also reports that two Japanese diplomats were ambushed and killed.

President George Bush flew home today after surprising US troops in Iraq with a secret Thanksgiving Day visit to thank them for ”defending the American people from danger”.

President George Bush made a surprise visit to American troops in Baghdad today, flying secretly to violence-scarred Iraq on a trip tense with concerns about his safety.

US troops have arrested six Iraqis suspected in attacks against US helicopters, including at least two allegedly involved in last week’s downing of a Black Hawk that killed all six people on board, officials said today.

The US military is holding 20 people suspected of links to al-Qaida, the commander of US forces said in Baghdad today.

The US has handed military control over a huge swathe of Iraq to a Polish commander during a ceremony in the ruins of an amphitheatre built by Alexander the Great near Babylon.

THE commander of US forces in Iraq yesterday blamed continuing violence on insufficient intelligence and lack of co-operation from the Iraqi people.

A massive car bomb blast outside the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad today killed up to 12 people, said rescuers.

AMERICAN soldiers were attacked in broad daylight in the centre of Baghdad yesterday when a grenade was dropped into their vehicle from a bridge.

American soldiers were attacked in broad daylight in the centre of Baghdad today with witnesses saying two were killed when a grenade was dropped into their vehicle from a bridge.

THE US may release graphic photos of the bullet-ridden corpses of Saddam Hussein’s sons to convince sceptical Iraqis that they are dead, Bush administration officials said last night.

THE US may have to release graphic photos of the bullet-ridden corpses of Saddam Hussein’s sons to convince sceptical Iraqis that they are dead, Bush administration officials said last night.

The US may have to release graphic photos of the bullet-ridden corpses of Saddam Hussein’s sons to convince sceptical Iraqis that they are dead, Bush administration officials said tonight.

SADDAM HUSSEIN’S two sons were killed by US forces during a fierce gun battle in northern Iraq, it was confirmed last night.

The commander of coalition forces in Iraq says Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay were killed in a raid by US forces today.