Canadian ex-official: Afghan prison claims known Eds: APNewsNow. For global distribution.

TORONTO (AP) Canada's former top official on Afghanistan says allegations of abuse in Afghan jails were well known in 2006 when the Canadian military was turning over detainees to Afghanistan's intelligence service.

David Mulroney, who headed the Afghanistan task force for Canada's Foreign Affairs Department, testified at a Parliament hearing that there was no alternative to handing over the prisoners because the Canadian military was under agreement with Afghan officials to do so.

He said Canadian officials were working to improve the system in the meantime.

Mulroney's testimony appears to contradict that of military commanders, who insisted Wednesday that they heard no allegations of torture until the spring of 2007.

A former Canadian intelligence officer in Afghanistan alleged last week his reports on the issue were ignored.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-26-09 1658CST | save this article / add to your favorites list