Army commander: I knew nothing about abuse of Iraqis

A former Army commanding officer told a public inquiry today that he knew nothing about the alleged abuse of Iraqi detainees by his men.

Colonel Jorge Mendonca also strongly denied a claim by a previous witness that he punched an Iraqi prisoner in front of more than 100 troops.

Giving evidence to the inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa, he suggested his officers might have kept him "out of the loop" about abuses because of his "reputation for doing things properly".

Mr Mousa, 26, was working at a hotel in Basra when it was raided by British forces. He was taken to the base of 1st Battalion the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, where he died in September 2003, after suffering 93 injuries.

The inquiry heard of several other occasions in 2003 when members of the regiment, commanded by Col Mendonca, allegedly abused detainees.

A 2007 court martial cleared Col Mendonca of negligence over Mr Mousa's death. The inquiry continues.