Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Wednesday condemned the abuse of prisoners in Iraq by USmilitary personnel, saying those responsible should be pursued and prosecuted.

"I condemn it unconditionally -- and that is no part as far as I am concerned of the behavior I know to be the norm of American military personnel," Howard told reporters.

"It is important that the people responsible be pursued and prosecuted in accordance with the law," he said.

He said he believes very strongly that US President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld would be as appalled by the act as he is.

A global furor has arisen since pictures of smirking US soldiers abusing and sexually humiliating Iraqi prisoners were broadcast on televisions in the United States and other countries.

Six US army officers at the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad have received letter of reprimand for their involvement in the prisoner abuse scandal and six other US soldiers are under criminal investigation.

Source: Xinhua