LONDON, May 10 (Xinhuanet) -- British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said Monday any allegations of abuse by British soldiers in Iraq will be investigated thoroughly and action will be taken to "root out and deal with" any unauthorized actions.

    He told the Commons in a statement that two cases were in an advanced stage of investigation with a decision on possible legal action pending.

    The minister apologized where any mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners may have occurred. He said the military police would immediately carry out any investigations once a complaint was made,and would not rely on reports from the International Organization of Red Cross (ICRC) or the media.

    "We are not complacent in any way," he said, promising "appropriate action" if British forces are found to have acted unlawfully.

    The defense minister said the UK requires its forces at all times to follow UK law and comply with the Geneva Convention.

    The Red Cross report, alleging abuse at Al-Hakimiya and ill-treatment at Umm Qasr, was handed over to British military officials in Iraq in February, but was not seen by ministers "until recently", he added.

    Hoon said practices which the ICRC had highlighted had come to an end last year and that it was "fair to say, the ICRC was fairlyhappy with the approach" of British troops.

    He added the military had not been given any formal ICRC report,only an interim one. Hoon said indications show that a vehicle used in Daily Mirror photographs showing alleged torture was not used in Iraq.

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair had earlier in the day deniedhaving been told about the report in February. He told a press conference that he was made aware of "specific allegations" through the media during the past few days.

    Thirty-three separate cases of alleged ill-treatment have been investigated, Hoon said. Fifteen of them have been dismissed whileanother six are being pursued. Enditem ¡¡