Britain is opening an inquiry into claims that its soldiers murdered and abused civilians in southern Iraq in 2004.

Several Iraqis claim they were abused at a base called Camp Abu Naji in Maysan province after a battle between British troops and insurgents.

Lawyers claim up to 20 Iraqis were tortured and executed by British troops.

The uncle of one of the dead, 19-year-old Hamid Al-Sweady, is suing the Ministry of Defense along with five other Iraqis.

The military says all the dead were killed on the battlefield.

The inquiry, headed by a retired senior judge, opens Tuesday with a preliminary hearing.

Britain is also holding an investigation into the death of a hotel receptionist in Basra in 2003 and a separate wide-ranging public inquiry into the war.