Use of unmuzzled dogs at Iraq prison 'authorised'

US INTELLIGENCE personnel ordered military dog handlers to use unmuzzled dogs to intimidate detainees at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, according to The Washington Post.

The newspaper reported this yesterday, citing sworn statements from handlers provided to military investigators.

A military intelligence interrogator also told investigators that two dog handlers at the prison were "having a contest" to see how many detainees they could make involuntarily urinate out of fear of the dogs, the Post said.

Six US soldiers face possible courts martial and one has already been jailed for a year because of the abuses at Abu GhraibTwo army dog handlers assigned to Abu Ghraib, Sergeant Michael Smith and Sergeant Santos Cardona, told investigators that military intelligence personnel asked them to bring their dogs to prison interrogation sites numerous times to help question detainees in December and January, the Post reported.

Neither Smith nor Cardona have been charged in connection with the abuse at Abu Ghraib.

"It's all under investigation," Lt Col Pamela Hart, an army spokeswoman, told the newspaper.