Britain warned about Iraqi torture charges a year ago

The British government was told a year ago of allegations that British troops had tortured Iraqi prisoners, the human rights group Amnesty said Sunday, contradicting claims that the charges did not surface until February.

The British government was told a year ago of allegations that British troops had tortured Iraqi prisoners, the human rights group Amnesty said Sunday, contradicting claims that the charges did not surface until February.

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"We have had a series of meetings and correspondence with the government over this for a year now. Now it is saying it only became aware of the allegations in February," the organisation said.

On Saturday the government said it had received in February a confidential report from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) detailing the abuse of Iraqi detainees by American and British troops.

"The UK Government has known about allegations of torture and one death by British troops since last May," Amnesty said.

It said it had sent a memorandum to the Defence Ministry (MoD)in May 2003 reporting the death and torture of Iraqi detainees.

Senior staff had met MoD and Foreign Office officials in June and a further memorandum had been sent to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon in July and a letter in October expressing concern.