Iraq's interior minister says reports that Sunni Arab prisoners were tortured at a secret Baghdad jail are exaggerated.
Bayan Jabr says seven detainees showed signs of abuse. He stressed that those responsible will be held accountable.
Mr. Jabr described those held at the detention center as dangerous terrorists. He also rejected claims that all the detainees were Sunni Arabs, and referred to at least one Shi'ite man held there.
Earlier Thursday, Mr. Jabr's deputy, Major General Hussein Kamal, called for unified command over detention centers to prevent cases of abuse.
Meanwhile, U.S. military officials have offered to support an Iraqi investigation into the prison.
But the country's main Sunni political party, the Iraqi Islamic Party, is demanding an international probe. Some Sunnis accuse a Shi'ite militia (Badr Organization) of running the prison. The Shi'ite group denies any involvement.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
