Canada ignored report on Afghan prison abuse-paper

OTTAWA, Apr 25 (Reuters) Canada played down allegations that Afghan authorities were torturing prisoners handed over by Canadian troops, even though a secret government report showed such abuses were common, a newspaper said today.

The Conservative government -- under increasing pressure over reports that suspect Taliban militants were beaten, whipped and mistreated after being transferred -- says the allegations are rumors and nothing has been proven.

But a secret report on human rights in Afghanistan prepared last year by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs says ''extrajudicial executions, disappearances, torture and detention without trial are all too common''. Extracts were published in the Globe and Mail.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper -- who says his critics care more about the rights of the Taliban than about the 2,500 Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan -- made it clear yesterday that the soldiers would continue to hand over detainees.

One leading expert on international law says if the allegations are proven, then Canada is guilty of war crimes.

No one in Harper's office responded to a request for comment on the Globe story.

Denis Coderre, defense spokesman for the official opposition Liberal Party, said it was clear that Ottawa knew about the report and said Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor should resign.

''The problem is that from day one they knew (about abuses). It means they had the report from 2006 from foreign affairs, from our own officials ... why does Mr Harper not take those allegations truly seriously?'' he told reporters.

Harper yesterday said the report of abuses would be investigated and added: ''I think what is disgraceful is to simply accept the allegations of some Taliban suspects at face value.'' REUTERS AGL BD2320