CAMP DAVID, June 9: Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Friday became the first foreign leader to publicly confront President George Bush over allegations of civilian killings in the Iraqi town of Haditha.

Denmark has been a close US ally in Iraq, which was one of the main topics discussed by the two at the American presidential retreat at Camp David.

“When unacceptable events happen in Abu Ghraib, and when allegations are made about horrific events in Haditha, it is not only a tragedy for the victims. It is damaging to our own efforts and an offence to our very own values,” Mr Rasmussen said at a press conference with Mr Bush.

“The president has assured me that all allegations will be investigated, and if there has been wrongdoing, then the responsible will be prosecuted.”

The US military has started two investigations in events at Haditha on Nov 19, where 24 civilians are said to have been killed after a US marine died in a roadside bombing. One is a criminal investigation and a second into whether a cover-up was carried out.

Mr Bush said last week that he found reports of the killings ‘troubling’, but the White House has refused to comment further because of the investigations.

Mr Bush told the press conference: “The prime minister and I share values. And he spent time making sure that I understood his strong belief that when we fight the war on terror and we help new democracies that we’ve got to uphold the values that we believe in.”

The Danish leader said that despite the allegations his country would stay in the US-led alliance.

“We are committed to remain in Iraq as long as the Iraqi government and the UN request our assistance and as long as we can make a positive difference,” he said.

Despite the unpopularity of the Iraq war, Mr Rasmussen commented: “I would say that our efforts have not been in vain. Democracy is what it is all about. We agree on the very reason for being engaged in Iraq: to put an end to oppression and to promote freedom, democracy and human rights.

“These are the very values we want to defend. That also gives us strong obligation to live up to those values in every step we take.” —AFP