US soldiers 'told to abuse Iraq prisoners'

ABUSE of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers may be widespread and orchestrated by US intelligence agencies including the CIA, it was claimed yesterday.

A secret investigation by a US general into abuse allegations uncovered "sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses" of prisoners to soften them up for interrogation.

Meanwhile, lawyers for some of the soldiers shown humiliating Iraqi detainees in photographs claimed that the service men and women were following orders.