14,000 Iraq detainees held without trial

BAGHDAD- Detainees in Iraq are still being tortured and denied their rights three years after the Abu Ghraib scandal, Amnesty International says.

Amnesty said that more than 14,000 people were being held in custody by US and British forces without charges or being produced before courts - a breach of international law.

Around 200 of these prisoners had been incarcerated for over two years and another 4000 for a year or more.

Those detained are denied visits from lawyers or relatives for the first 60 days of their detention and "many prisoners have despaired of ever being released or being given an opportunity to challenge their detention".

The report highlights recent cases of torture by Iraqi forces - especially by people linked to the Iraq Interior Ministry - as being of "concern".

Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said: "After the horrors of life under Saddam and then Abu Ghraib, it is shocking to discover that the multinational forces are detaining thousands of people without charge.

"To hold this huge number of people without basic legal safeguards is a gross dereliction of responsibility on the part of both the US and UK forces."

- INDEPENDENT