Video shows Spanish troops abusing Iraqis

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MADRID, March 19 (UPI) -- Spanish Defense Ministry officials say they are investigating a video that appears to show Spanish troops brutalizing Iraqi prisoners in 2004.

A video released by the Spanish daily El Pais appears to show two Spanish soldiers beating and kicking two Iraqi men imprisoned in the city of Diwaniya, thinkSPAIN reported Monday.

Defense Minister Pedro Morenes said he would "very surprised" if the video was real. If it is, he said it would be first time in the country's modern history that Spanish troops committed atrocities during a foreign mission.

Officials are working to determine if the video is real or a hoax and whether the soldiers shown in the video are Spanish.

If the video is verified, defense officials will try to identify the soldiers.

Spain pulled its troops from Iraq shortly after the video reportedly was made.

About 120,000 Spanish soldiers are serving overseas.