Prime Minister Tony Blair told a news conference he did not know the specifics of Red Cross allegations of U.S. and British abuse of Iraqi prisoners until "the last few days."

Gen. John Abizaid, top commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, expressed "deep regret" for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, Bahrain News Agency said. Abizaid was in Bahrain on a tour of the region.

Control over Abu Ghraib will be negotiated after Iraqis regain sovereignty June 30, the United States said.

The military indicated that no television cameras will be allowed in the courtroom at next week's court-martial of Spc. Jeremy C. Sivits, the first trial in the prison abuse scandal.

U.S. commanders had asked Spanish forces to help hunt down or kill a religious leader, but Spain refused, saying its mission was humanitarian, the defense minister, Jose Bono said. Bono did not specify whether he was referring to al-Sadr.

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Fifty-five percent of the 1,001 adult Britons surveyed for The Independent newspaper said British troops should be withdrawn once sovereignty is handed over to the interim Iraqi government June 30; 28 percent were opposed.

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