GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

The Guyana army says it will investigate allegations that several soldiers had been tortured during the search for a missing assault rifle late last year.

"For the loss of the AK-47 rifle, several persons were interrogated and we are not aware of any act of physical abuse during the interrogation process, but we remain committed to investigating any such act," acting deputy chief of staff Bruce Lovell told Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

Since the disappearance of the rifle, military sources say the entire command structure of the unit has been relieved of their duties to facilitate the investigations, and disciplinary proceedings have started against officers and soldiers.

But several soldiers said when they were interrogated by senior officers last month, they were given electric shocks and were also subjected to other acts of torture.

They said one officer, who was responsible for the arsenal at the army headquarters in the capital, suffered broken ribs during the interrogation.

Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, President Bharrat Jagdeo said that his government would not tolerate torture, and that the soldiers should seek recourse if they were beaten.

Last year, Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Com-modore Gary Best denied the army was involved in torturing persons.

"We do not condone torture of any citizen. I don't know that the army beat or burn people to get answers. Acts of violence are not tolerated," he said then.