Mandela criticises US, Britain over Iraqi prisoners

South Africa's anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela on Monday criticised the United States and Britain over the treatment of Iraqi prisoners.

South Africa's anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela on Monday criticised the United States and Britain over the treatment of Iraqi prisoners.

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"We watch as two of the leading democracies, two leading nations of the free world, get involved in a war that the United Nations did not sanction," said Mandela in an address to parliament.

"We look on with horror as reports surface of terrible abuses against the dignity of human beings held captive by invading forces in their own country," he said as members of parliament applauded.

The British and US governments have been in the eye of a political storm over the publication of photographs of prisoners tortured by their forces in Iraq.