British deny Iraq killings, torture

LONDON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- The British Ministry of Defense has denied claims that Iraqi detainees were tortured, killed and mutilated by British soldiers after a 2004 gun battle.

Alleged survivors of the battle said 22 people died and another nine tortured at a British army camp near the town of Majar al Kabir where six Royal Military Police were killed, the Telegraph reported Friday.

The claims were made to human rights lawyers in Turkey, the report said.

The British High Court has recently lifted a gag order on the allegations.