Prisoner Scandal Puts Blair on Spot

Pressure mounted on Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday over allegations that British troops abused Iraqi prisoners, with politicians demanding to know what action the government took in regard to reports of mistreatment.

Blair said he was sorry for any mistreatment by British soldiers, but stopped short of admitting abuses had taken place.

“We’ve already made it absolutely clear we apologize deeply to anyone who’s been mistreated by any of our soldiers. That is absolutely and totally unacceptable,” Blair told France 3 television Sunday.

Blair said any abuse was inexcusable but called for a sense of perspective, saying thousands of soldiers in Iraq were doing good work.

The prime minister’s popularity has plummeted during the Iraq war, prompting calls for his resignation from within his own party.

He made his Sunday comments after the government said the International Committee of the Red Cross had raised concerns over the treatment of British-held prisoners in February.

The Ministry of Defense said three British soldiers had interrogated prisoners at the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad from January to April, but that it was “not aware of any allegations or incidents of abuse.”

The ministry confirmed that military police had completed an inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse of Iraqi detainees elsewhere and made recommendations to the Army Prosecuting Authority, which will decide whether to bring charges.