25 Jun 2009

Claims of abuse made by former US prisoners

6:22 am on 25 June 2009

An investigation by the BBC into the treatment of former prisoners at a United States detention centre in Afghanistan has uncovered accusations of physical and emotional abuse.

Inmates at the Bagram military base between 2002 - 2008 say they were beaten, deprived of sleep, threatened with firearms or dogs and hung from the ceiling.

They were all held on suspicion of being members or supporters of Al Qaeda or the Taliban, but never charged.

The United States Central Command Headquarters in Florida says any credible allegations of abuse of people in US custody will be investigated.