'We will not tolerate abuse'

"We will make it clear whenever we can, wherever we can, within the rules of procedure, that we will not tolerate abuse of any kind," the spokesman said.

He stressed that there was no evidence of any widescale abuse by British soldiers, and that the reputation of Britain's contingent in Iraq should be upheld.

"In general, we do not believe there is any evidence of systematic abuse within the army," he said. "What's important is that the activities of all those who served in Iraq should not be judged by allegations against a few and that it is the activities of the majority of the soldiers which should be recognized," he said.

Three British soldiers are facing court martial before a military tribunal in Germany, charged with offenses ranging variously from battery, to forcing people in their custody to simulate sexual acts, to prejudicing good military order.

Some 22 photographs have been released to the media by the court judge, taken by soldiers as souvenirs of the acts alleged carried out in May, 2003 at a aid storage depot known as the "bread basket" near Basra, southern Iraq.

Head of the British Army, General Sir Mike Jackson, has said he "condemns utterly" abuse, as three soldiers face charges of mistreating Iraqi civilians.

Sir Mike would not comment on the case directly, or on 22 photographs depicting the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners taken from the cameras of five servicemen, which were shown to the court.

But he stressed that of the 65,000 British troops who had served in Iraq only a "small number" had been accused of any mistreatment.

The general said the court martial's outcome would be studied to see if it raised any further issues for the army.

Sir Mike said: "I have every confidence in the military investigative and judicial system," he added.

The photographs include a picture of two naked Iraqi men simulating anal sex with their thumbs raised to the camera and a photograph of two Iraqi men simulating oral sex..

Defence counsel for L/Cpl Larkin, 30, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, told the court martial he had always admitted responsibility for the "unacceptable and mindless" assault, which he said had "brought shame on his proud regiment and his proud family".