Karzai Angry at US Afghan 'Abuse'

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned as unacceptable new details of alleged abuse of prisoners by US troops in Afghanistan. The president's spokesman told the BBC the soldiers involved in the deaths of two inmates and alleged abuse of others should be punished.

The allegations are detailed by the New York Times citing a 2,000-page document leaked from a US army investigation. They come at a sensitive time as Mr Karzai flies to the US on Saturday. Correspondents say his four-day trip could also be overshadowed by last week's violent anti-US protests in Afghanistan following allegations in Newsweek magazine - now retracted - that US guards at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had desecrated the Koran.

Mr Karzai, a US ally who came to power following the collapse of the Taleban regime in late 2001, has recently spoken of "US military mistakes". Officials in Washington said the alleged abuses detailed in the New York Times were being investigated and those responsible would be held to account.

Seven US servicemen have already been charged in relation to the two deaths at Bagram military base, north of Kabul, in 2002. The new allegations relate to the level of abuse the two prisoners are said to have been subjected to.