Top US officer charged with Abu Ghraib abuses

The Army has accused Jordan of disobeying orders, dereliction of duty, cruelty, and making false statements.

The US Army has slapped charges on the officer who oversaw interrogations at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad in connection with the abuse of detainees in the prison.

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Lieutenant Colonel Steven L Jordan is the first officer and highest-ranking member of the US military to face criminal prosecution for the abuse that sparked worldwide outrage.

The Army has accused Jordan of disobeying orders, dereliction of duty, cruelty, maltreatment and making false statements in seven counts of wrongdoing.

Jordan headed the Joint Interrogation Debriefing Centre in Iraq and the Army said that he could face additional charges.

So far, 10 US soldiers have been convicted for the abuses at Abu Ghraib, which erupted into an international scandal after photos emerged depicting the mistreatment of prisoners in April 2004.

The scandal damaged the credibility of the US on human rights issues and prompted an apology from US President George W Bush.

A date has not yet been set for Jordan's preliminary hearing.