*Ø* Abu Ghraib: Australia knew last October

I was misled on abuse: Howard

"Prime Minister John Howard says he did not mislead the public about when Australian officials became aware of allegations about the serious abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

"The Defence Department has revealed that its officials first learnt of the allegations last October.

"Last Friday, the department said that none of the 300 soldiers and civilians who may have had contact with prisoners knew about claims of serious mistreatment until the issue became public in April.

"But defence secretary Ric Smith has today told a Senate committee that he was wrong ..."
Source: ABC [Oz] News