Washington: Shocking cases of previously unreported prisoner abuses by the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan, including stealing of expensive items and deaths and assaults outside prisons, have come to light after it was revealed that 91 such cases are being probed by authorities.

Over the past year, the Army has opened investigations into at least 91 cases of possible misconduct by US soldiers against detainees and civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, 'The Washington Post' reported today (June 1, 2004), quoting Army sources.

This total was previously unreported and points to a "broader range of wrongful behaviour than Defence officials have acknowledged", says 'The Post'.

The figure was provided by a senior Army official, and includes mistreatment of dozens of Iraqis in US custody outside detention centres.

It also covers non-lethal assaults and as many as 18 instances of US soldiers in Iraq allegedly stealing money, jewellery or other property, 'The Post' said.

"Taken together, the 91 cases indicate misconduct by US troops wider in type and greater in number than suggested by the focus simply on the mistreatment of Iraqis held at the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad."

"The majority of the cases under investigation occurred in Iraq, although the Army has not provided an exact accounting of all the locations," it said.

According to the senior Army official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the assault cases have led to at least 14 court martials and seven non-judicial punishments, but he had no information on who was prosecuted for what or with what results.

The Army has been slow to make those details public despite requests from Congress and news organisations for more specifics about all the investigations, whether completed or ongoing.

Reports about the criminal probes have dribbled out in bits and pieces. Of the 91 probes, 42 involve alleged abuse inside detention facilities and 49 outside, said the official.

Of the inside cases, 30 relate to deaths of 34 individuals. The other 12 are assaults, including kicking, punching or other abusive action on an unspecified number of detainees.

Half the death cases have been attributed to natural causes or undetermined factors. Four cases, involving eight detainee deaths, were ruled justifiable homicide, meaning US soldiers were deemed to have killed in self-defence or to prevent escapes.

But 10 other homicides had no such justification. Only one case so far has resulted in disciplinary action, with a soldier being demoted and discharged after shooting a prisoner who was throwing stones at a detention centre Northwest of Baghdad last September 11.

Another homicide case, involving a contractor employed by the CIA, has been turned over to the Justice Department.

Investigations into the other eight homicides remain open amid evidence that the dead detainees were assaulted before enduring interrogation sessions.