THE British Army yesterday admitted that the mistreatment of Iraqis in the aftermath of war became such a problem that all soldiers had to be issued with a formal warning not to assault detainees.

Confronted by chaotic scenes of looting and disorder, soldiers assaulted prisoners and forced them into heavy labour despite having been advised that it was in explicit contradiction of the Geneva Convention.

Politicians united yesterday to condemn the images of abuse portrayed in the 22 photographs released on Tuesday during the court martial of three soldiers accused of assaulting and sexually humiliating Iraqi prisoners.

The Army said last night that the problem became so bad that its legal advisers issued explicit orders to all commanders on the ground that Iraqis must not be assaulted while in custody.

Giving evidence in court, Lieutenant-Colonel Nick Mercer, of the Army Legal Services, said that the orders were issued after a number of complaints were received that the Army was disproportionate in its response to the looting.

“Once we moved into an occupation role from a battlefield, once the situation changed, allegations were made that Iraqis were not being treated as properly as they should be,” he said.

“It became essential that all soldiers should understand the problem. That became the basis of the order, codenamed Frago 152, which reminded commanders that detained people should not be assaulted.”

But he said that the extent of the problem faced by soldiers dealing with the chaotic aftermath of the war could not be exaggerated.

“Hundreds and hundreds of people were looting,” Colonel Mercer added.

He made his remarks during cross-examination by Joseph Givet, defence counsel for Corporal Daniel Kenyon, 33, the most senior of the accused soldiers. The men face up to ten years in jail if convicted.

Tony Blair said that the images, while appalling, should not be allowed to tarnish the good name of the Armed Forces. The Prime Minister expressed his “disgust” at images of Iraqis being forced to simulate sexual acts and being bound and threatened, allegedly by British soldiers.

Downing Street made plain last night that Mr Blair had not seen the pictures before they reached the public domain. “I think everyone finds those photographs shocking and appalling,” he said.

A panel of seven officers is trying Corporal Kenyon and two comrades at the court martial. Lance Corporal Mark Cooley, 25, and Corporal Kenyon pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday. Lance Corporal Darren Larkin, 30, admitted one charge of assaulting an unknown male at an aid camp known as the Bread Basket in Basra, southern Iraq, in May 2003 but denied a charge of forcing two Iraqi males to undress in front of others.

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