An investigation was launched today following claims that an Iraqi prisoner of war was beaten to death by a British soldier, the British Ministry of Defence said.
The victim suffered at least 50 injuries, according to a report in The Sunnewspaper today.
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman confirmed it was making inquiries after a PoW died while in the custody of British forces but described reports that a British soldier would be charged with manslaughter as "pure speculation".
She declined to give any details about the alleged injuries suffered by the man, reportedly named Mr Al-Maliki.
The victim was allegedly captured by troops from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment who swooped on Saddam supporters near the British-held city of Basra last September.
He was among nine others taken to an army base in the city, according to The Sun.
One later died and was said to have a huge number of internal and external injuries, said the paper.
A second PoW was severely beaten and suffered kidney failure, a third suffered serious internal injuries and the other six all lodged complaints about their treatment, the paper said.
The MoD confirmed the Royal Military Police Special Investigations Branch, which handles the most sensitive cases, was conducting the inquiry into how the Iraqi died.
The Queen's Lancashire Regiment is in Iraq on peacekeeping duties.
A month before the Iraqi died they had lost one of their number after coming under attack.
PA
