The US army has charged the former head of the interrogation centre at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq with seven offences including cruelty and maltreatment.
The officer, Colonel Steven Jordan, is the highest ranking member of the US military to face criminal charges in connection with the scandal at the jail.
Iraqi prisoners there were subjected to physical abuse.
He will now face a court martial.
Human rights groups have welcomed the decision to prosecute a senior officer but say this is just the first step.
