WASHINGTON, March 9: The United States has said that it takes seriously reports of excessive use of force by its soldiers. A State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher , said on Tuesday the US administration had always probed allegations of improper behaviour or violations of international law by its forces.

An international human rights organization- Human Rights Watch- has accused US soldiers of harshly treating civilians and combatants in their custody, claiming many actions fall outside the rule of law.

"We are aware of the allegations in the Human Rights Watch report. The United States takes seriously reports of excessive use of force and allegations of inappropriate or wrongful behaviour by US forces, including violations of international law," said Mr Boucher.

The United States, he said, investigated all credible reports and, where substantiated, had taken appropriate action against those that had engaged in wrongful conduct.