The hawkish Mr Rumsfeld, one of the chief architects of the Iraq war, faced calls for his resignation when the scandal at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad first broke. An investigation into abuse at the prison was completed in early March, but even two months later, Mr Rumsfeld had still not read the report fully. He was forced to offer his deepest apologies for what had happened, saying he had not realised the seriousness of the allegations until pictures were leaked to the media. President George W Bush has thrown his weight behind Mr Rumsfeld, declaring that the nation owed him a "debt of gratitude". His position is widely held to be secure for the time being. US commentators believe that forcing him from office would be seen as an admission that the administration's Iraq policy is in disarray.

Brigadier General Janis Karpinski: Brigadier General Karpinski found herself in the eye of the storm as the senior US military official in charge of prisons and detention centres across Iraq, including Abu Ghraib. She led the unit that ran the prison and whose soldiers have been charged with criminal offences. General Karpinski was suspended in late January as a military investigation into procedures at the prison was carried out. She has said she believed military commanders were trying to shift the blame onto her and other reservists and away from the intelligence officers still at work in the prison.

Major General Geoffrey Miller: The newly-appointed chief in charge of detention centres across Iraq, Major General Miller previously ran the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. General Miller led a 30-strong mission to Iraq in August and September 2003 to focus on ways of sharpening interrogation procedures. But he has denied the group recommended military police should be involved in interrogation procedures. Vowing to improve conditions at the jail by cutting numbers, General Miller has said interrogations will continue but pledged all prisoners would be treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

THE ACCUSED

Private Lyndie England: Pictures of 21-year-old Private Lynndie England appeared in media outlets across the world. They included one of Private England holding a leash tied around the neck of a crumpled prisoner. In another she smiles at the camera as a cigarette hangs from her lips, pointing a mock gun at the genitals of a naked prisoner. She has been demoted from the rank of specialist to private first class. Ms England, who joined the army as a reservist after leaving high school and left for Iraq in February 2003, claims the abuses formed part of tactics approved by her superiors. Six other members of her unit, the 372nd Military Police unit based in Cresaptown, Maryland, are facing preliminary court-martial proceedings in connection with the alleged abuse.

Specialist Jeremy Sivits: Specialist Sivits, 24, will be the first military policeman to appear before a special court martial in Baghdad. He is reported to have trained as a truck mechanic and not a prison guard. But the charges against him include conspiracy to maltreat subordinates and detainees, dereliction of duty for negligently failing to protect detainees from abuse, and maltreatment of detainees.

Sergeant Javal Davis: Sergeant Davis, 26, has been ordered to stand trial for charges including rendering false official statements and assault as well as maltreatment of detainees.

Sergeant Ivan "Chip" Frederick: Sergeant Frederick is charged with maltreatment of detainees and committing indecent acts, among other accusations. Before leaving for Iraq in February 2003, 37-year-old Sergeant Frederick was a prison officer at a state jail in Virginia. In written accounts of conditions at the prison, Sergeant Frederick described his job as preparing inmates for interrogation.

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