A UK public inquiry will be held into the death of Iraqi civilian Baha Mousa, the government has announced.

Mr Mousa died while in British Army detention after being taken into custody in Basra in September 2003.

Defence Secretary Des Browne told MPs an inquiry "will reassure the public that we are leaving no stone unturned in investigating his tragic death".

Lawyers for Mr Mousa's relatives said other alleged cases of manslaughter and torture should also be examined.

Mr Mousa, a hotel receptionist, died after being taken into custody.

His post-mortem examination showed he suffered asphyxiation and had some 93 injuries to his body.

Solicitor Phil Shiner Mr Shiner, who represents Mr Mousa's family and other Iraqis said to have been mistreated, said a broad inquiry into the British Army's detention policy is necessary.

"This would need to get to the bottom of how it came about that the five techniques banned in 1972 - hooding, stressing, food and water deprivation, sleep deprivation and noise - were reintroduced as apparently standard operating procedure for all Battle Groups."