Any proven abuse of Iraqi prisoners held by the occupation forces in Iraq should lead to court action against those responsible, the International Committee of the Red Cross said yesterday.

Speaking to AFP, an ICRC spokeswoman also said that the International Red Cross regularly visited Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad, the main facility where there have been accusations of torture in recent days.

"When there is information relating to torture it is extremely important that there should be a serious investigation, and if the allegations prove to be true, that such acts should be punished by the law," said spokeswoman Antonella Notari.

She also said that she considered measures taken by the United States since reports of the abuse surfaced to be "extremely positive."