Red Cross, October 2003: Abu Graib beatings and the threat of imminent execution, were 'tantamount to torture'.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | UK had advance alert of jail abuse: "Sunday June 19, 2005 | The Observer

A report on torture on Iraqis at Abu Ghraib was circulated within the army, writes Jamie Doward

The British army's senior military lawyer in Iraq was aware of allegations that human rights abuses were being committed at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison months before they were exposed by the American media.

The lawyer, who compiled regular written and oral briefings for his seniors within the British army's high command, was responsible for summarising a litany of abuses identified by the Red Cross after the charity visited the prison in October 2003.

The charity said the abuses, which included beatings and the threat of imminent execution, were 'tantamount to torture'. Following its visit, the Red Cross compiled a detailed report for the US military calling for a series of changes in the prison's regime.

The report was read by the British military lawyer, whose identity is not known, and circulated within Command Joint Task Force 7 (CJTF7), the division in charge of Abu Ghraib."