A coalition of non-governmental groups on Wednesday took the UN Security Council to task for its "shocking silence" on alleged violations of international law by US-led forces in Iraq and urged an early end to their mandate.

In a scathing report, the Global Policy Forum slammed the conduct of US-led coalition forces and their Iraqi government partners who "have held a large number of Iraqi citizens in 'security detention' without charge or trial, in direct violation of international law."

"No Iraqi is safe from arbitrary arrest and the number of prisoners has risen greatly since 2003 (when the US-led war began)," said the forum, an international non-profit body that monitors policy-making at the United Nations.

"The Security Council has maintained a shocking silence on (abuses in) Iraq," James Paul, one of the lead authors of the report, told a press briefing.

He also voiced concern about UN chief Ban Ki-moon's plan to expand the world body's role in Iraq, saying UN activities there were seen as being too dependent on the US-led multinational forces.

The United Nations cut back the number of its staff in Iraq after the bombing of its headquarters in Baghdad in August 2003 which killed its special representative in the country, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and others.

"Since then, the UN has had almost no oversight role," said the report which noted that while it did not authorize the war, the Security Council gave the US-led coalition a mandate to operate in Iraq.

Paul challenged the 15-member council to assume its responsibility and act to end evidence of abuses and violations of international law by US-led forces.

The report said US military commanders have established permissive "rules of engagement," allowing troops to use "deadly force" against virtually any perceived threat.

"As a consequence, the US and its allies regularly kill Iraqi civilians at checkpoints and during military operations, on the basis of the merest suspicion," the 117-page report said.

It also accused US forces of abusing and torturing "large numbers" of Iraqi prisoners and notes that "torture increasingly takes place in Iraqi prisons, apparently with US awareness and complicity."

It deplores the fact that the United States has established "broad legal immunity" in Iraq "for its forces, for private security personnel, for foreign military and civilian contractors, and even for the oil companies doing business in Iraq."

The report says that "a very large number" of Iraqis have died "under the occupation and the rate of mortality has risen sharply."

"In addition to combat deaths, coalition forces have killed many Iraqi civilians," it said, adding that "a 2006 study estimates more than a half million 'excess' deaths since 2003."

The report also turned the spotlight on massive corruption in the country.

"Under the control or influence of US authorities, public funds in Iraq have been drained by massive corruption and stolen oil, leaving the country unable to provide basic services and incapable of rebuilding. Billion of dollars have disappeared," it said.

The report urged the council "to end the coalition mandate at the earliest opportunity and plan for a stable transition in Iraq, respecting international law."

It called for a "complete and speedy" withdrawal of the coalition "with no residual forces or bases and with no conditions."

It suggested that a UN peacekeeping force "clearly distinct from the coalition, assist with the transition by monitoring the ceasefire, strengthening local police forces and the judicial system and organizing fully-credible elections."

The report also called on the coalition and the Iraqi government to speedily release "all security detainees" who have not been charged with a crime.

AMSI Net- Middleeast Online