Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Sunday urged the United States to ensure that Iraqi prisoners will not be abused in the future.

"The United States must ensure there will not be any repeat of mistreatment," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

Malaysia currently chairs the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Obnoxious behaviour

On Saturday Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak urged the United States to review its treatment of Iraqi prisoners, saying a failure to do so would damage its international image and credibility.

Najib said the United States should not only apologise over abuses by American troops but must also take tough action to punish those responsible.

Television footage broadcast last week showed inmates at the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad being forced into humiliating, sexually suggestive poses.

Some images also showed US military personnel pointing and laughing at prisoners.

Malaysia had earlier described the alleged abuse as "very obnoxious behaviour with no respect for humanity", and has urged the United States and Britain to ensure investigations undertaken would not seek to justify the mistreatment. - AFP