Iraqi minister plays down torture reports

IRAQ'S Shi'ite interior minister accused critics yesterday of exaggerating reports of torture at a lock-up seized by US troops last weekend.

He also said that inmates included both Shi'ites and Sunnis and only a handful showed signs of abuse.

Interior Minister Bayn Jabr suggested some making the torture allegations were supporting the insurgency or had a personal score to settle and were using the US Embassy to exert pressure on him. He also said the interior ministry facility in the capital's Jadriyah district had held "dangerous terrorists", including one man accused of building six car bombs, he said.