Denmark recalled senior military officers in Iraq on Tuesday as an investigation into Danish soldiers' suspected abuse of prisoners in southern Iraq widened, Danish media reported.

Four senior military officers, including the Danish military commander in Iraq, have been recalled for the investigation, the reports quoted Danish Defense Minister Soeren Gade as saying.

Gade told reporters in Copenhagen that the government is taking the allegations against Danish soldiers very seriously, adding that anyone found guilty of such charges will be punished.

He did not say that the officers recalled have any direct linksto the prisoner abuse scandal, but indicated that they should at least be responsible for negligence.

The minister started the probe into suspected abuse of prisoners at the end of July, after someone used to work in the Danish unit in Iraq wrote to the ministry and reported cases of prisoner mistreatment.

Several Danish soldiers are now under investigation for suspected abuse of prisoners and one officer has been sent back for investigation.

Officials confirmed Monday that one officer was ordered home July 30, two weeks ahead of the scheduled return, to face a probe into allegations of abusing prisoners.

On Tuesday, the Danish military was informed that more others might have participated in torturing prisoners. Local media said that dozens of Danish soldiers might be involved.

Denmark has about 500 troops serving under the command of British troops in southern Iraqi city of Basra and nearby Qurnah, 400 km southeast of Baghdad.