Pentagon examines armed forces sex attacks

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has ordered an investigation into reports of sexual assaults on servicewomen by their male colleagues in the Gulf.

He ordered a review of procedures for medical care for victims and ways to guarantee privacy of victims who report assaults in a combat area.

An official said it came in response to media reports about sexual assaults in the region.

Mr Rumsfeld wrote in a memo to David Chu, the Pentagon's under-secretary for personnel and readiness: "I am concerned about recent reports regarding allegations of sexual assaults on service members deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. Sexual assault will not be tolerated in the Department of Defence."

Support organisations say 37 women have been assaulted by fellow military personnel while in Iraq or Kuwait during the last year.

Several said they did not receive thorough medical care, access to chaplains and lawyers or information on their rights.

Only 11 of the women have reported the sexual attacks to military authorities.

Many said they were afraid of retribution for reporting the incidents and some who did complain received unfavourable changes in their jobs or locations.

According to defence officials, 59,000 military women served within the region managed by US Central Command, which includes Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, between October 2002 and November 2003. Most were in Iraq and Kuwait.

The defence official said the Army has had 80 reports of sexual misconduct in the Central Command region during the past year. Another official said four are being treated as rape cases.

The Air Force recorded seven sexual misconduct cases in the region, the Marines one of sexual assault. Naval officials said they have had no reports.