U.S. military retains Iraqi prison control

BAGHDAD, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. military will retain control of Iraqi prisons until officials are convinced the Iraqis can take adequate care of the detainees.

"Bottom line, we will not pass on facilities or detainees until they meet the standards we define and that we are using today," Army Maj. Gen. John Gardner told Sunday's New York Times via phone from Iraq.

Scores of abused prisoners were recently discovered in detention centers run by Iraqi militias, the newspaper said.

U.S. troops are currently training Iraqis on how to handle their detainees -- 14,000 of which are considered dangerous, the Times said.

Gardner said U.S. military personnel as well as Iraqi government officials are currently inspecting the country's prisons and detention centers.

Officials had previously targeted 2006 for turning over the prison system back to Iraq, but sources told the Times it could be 2007 before that happens.