United Nations: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today (Apr 30, 2004) strongly opposed to the alleged abuse of Iraqi detainees by US soldiers.

"In all circumstances, and in all places, the Secretary General is strongly opposed to the mistreatment of detainees," his spokesman said in a statement.

"He reiterates that all detainees should be fully protected in accordance with the provisions of international human rights law," the spokesman said.

"He hopes that this was an isolated incident and welcomes what appears to be a clear determination on the part of the US military to bring those responsible to justice and to prevent such abuses in the future."

The general in charge of the US-run prison system in Iraq has been suspended and is under investigation over the alleged abuse of Iraqi detainees by US soldiers, according to the US military.

Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, head of the 800th Military Police Brigade, was suspended in late January after six US soldiers were indicted in March for mistreating prisoners at Baghdad's Abu Gharib prison.

A US television network this week showed images of US troops alongside naked Iraqi prisoners, some of them in a variety of sexual poses.