UNITED NATIONS, May 11 (Xinhuanet) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is profoundly disturbed by news reports alleging that children might have been among those abused in detention centers and prisons in Iraq, a statement said Tuesday.

    "Although the news reports have not been independently substantiated, they are alarming nonetheless," it said, adding that any mistreatment, sexual abuse, exploitation or torture of children in detention is a violation of international law.

    It said that the detention or imprisonment of a child must be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time, and for their safety and protection children should never be incarcerated with adults.

    The statement was the latest reaction by a UN body to widely disseminated reports and photographs of abuse of detainees by United States-led coalition personnel in Iraq. Enditem