U.S. Says Iraq Will Run Prisons When Standards Improve

U.S. soldiers with Iraqi prisoners (file photo) (CTK) 25 December 2005 -- The U.S. military today said it will not hand over detention facilities or individual detainees to the Iraqi government until it demonstrates higher standards of care.

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Barry Johnson said it was still "difficult to project" a specific timeline for the handover.

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said this month that at least 120 abused prisoners had been found in two detention facilities run by the Shi'ite-led Interior Ministry.

Sunni Arabs have complained about abuse and torture by Interior Ministry security forces.

Interior Minister Bayan Jabr has said allegations of abuse have been exacerbated by people who sympathize with the Sunni- led insurgency.

(AP)