Amid continuing allegations of misconduct against British troops in Iraq, Number 10 has defended the government's handling of the issue.

As human rights group Amnesty International made fresh allegations that UK soldiers have shot and killed Iraqi civilians, Downing Street said all cases were being thoroughly investigated.

The prime minister's official spokesman said the Ministry of Defence are reviewing "all cases raised by Amnesty International and will respond in due course".

He added that critics should consider "all the circumstances" in which UK troops operate.

The spokesman also defended the use of internal military investigations.

"The SIB [Special Investigation Branch] have a long track record of investigating allegations made against British troops," he said.

And the spokesman insisted that the process would be "rigorous and be seen to be rigorous".

New claims

On Monday defence secretary Geoff Hoon told MPs that the vast majority of UK forces were working for the good of Iraqis.

But a report published on Tuesday by human rights campaign group Amnesty International claimed that British soldiers had shot at civilians in circumstances where there was no apparent threat to themselves or others.

Those killed include an eight-year-old girl and a guest at a wedding celebration, said Amnesty.

The latest allegations will add to the pressure on ministers, who have seen their case for intervention in Iraq further undermined by the mistreatment of prisoners.

Hoon had raised questions about photographs published in the Mirror newspaper purporting to show UK forces abusing prisoners.

He said there were "strong indications that the vehicle in which the photographs were taken were not in Iraq".

That prompted representatives of the regiment involved to call for the paper to apologise, but a statement issued by the Mirror stood by the story, arguing that the MoD had not said its reports were untrue.

Amnesty's claims

Undermining the government's suggestions that all claims of abuse are properly examined, the Amnesty report concluded that many cases of civilian killings by UK armed forces have not been investigated.

And investigations by the Royal Military Police have been secretive, with families given little or no information about their progress, added the report.

"Killings by UK forces, in situations where they should not be using lethal force, are examined in secrecy and behind closed doors," said AIUK director Kate Allen.

"Instead of the army deciding whether to investigate itself when civilians are killed, there must be a full, impartial and civilian-led investigation into all allegations of killings by UK troops."

Among the cases highlighted in the report was that of eight-year-old  Hanan Saleh Matrud.

It was suggested she may have been shot by a British soldier who aimed and fired a shot at her from around 60 metres away.

An eyewitness is said to dispute the army’s account of her death, according to which she may have been hit accidentally by a warning shot.