http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040504/ap_on_re_mi_ea/un_prisoner_abuse&cid=540&ncid=1480GENEVA - The top U.N. human rights agency has opened an investigation into civil rights in Iraq (news - web sites), and on Tuesday it urged the U.S. military to prosecute soldiers alleged to have abused prisoners.
A U.N. team is collecting information from media reports and the U.S.-led coalition because it cannot travel to the country, said Jose Diaz, spokesman for the U.N. high commissioner for human rights.
The United Nations (news - web sites) withdrew its international staff from Iraq after the bombing of its offices in Baghdad in August, citing poor security.
Bertrand Ramcharan, the acting U.N. rights commissioner, "adds his voice to the expressions of revulsion regarding the reports and the photographs depicting the abuse of Iraqi prisoners," Diaz said.