TOWNSVILLE, May 11: Six Australian soldiers are facing the likelihood of dismissal after causing outrage here by admitting to a court that they tortured to death a litter of kittens.

Amid continuing outrage in Australia over allegations from Baghdad of US and British soldiers torturing Iraqi prisoners, army colleagues of the six men, local residents and animal welfare groups have all expressed shock at their behaviour.

The soldiers, from an army support battalion based at Townsville's Lavarack Barracks, were fined by the local magistrates court on Monday after pleading guilty to cruelty to animals charges.

Police told the hearing the soldiers had tied a rope around one kitten's neck, then dragged it behind a motor-bike along a bitumen road. The kitten survived but was then placed behind the rear wheel of a vehicle and when its handbrake was released, it rolled back and crushed the kitten to death.

Three other kittens were then thrown one by one on to the road, where fuel was poured over them and they were set alight and burnt to death. Magistrate David Glasgow said the soldiers had brought disgrace and dishonour to the army by their actions, but said he would not record a conviction against them. -AFP