Controversy has continued to rage over the pictures published in the Mirror allegedly showing the torture of Iraqi prisoners.

Adam Ingram, the armed forces minister, told the Commons that of 33 investigations into deaths of Iraqi civilians or alleged ill-treatment involving British soldiers, 12 were ongoing and 21 had been completed.

He said he was "appalled" by the photographs and urged the Mirror to cooperate with the investigation.

The Commons defence select committee will also say today that it wants Mirror editor Piers Morgan to identify the soldiers who handed the photographs to his newspaper.

Meanwhile, lawyers acting for 14 Iraqi families today launch a high court bid to challenge the Ministry of Defence's refusal to accept responsibility for the death of their relatives.