British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Monday that he and other cabinet members only got aware ofthe alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners by coalition troops "in the last few days."

The Downing Street confirmed at the weekend that the report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which detailed how the Iraqi prisoners were abused by British soldiers, had been received in February.

But Blair told reporters that "as far as I'm aware, not merely myself but all other government ministers did not know these specific allegations until they arose in the newspapers recently."

British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon is expected to face the grilling when he makes a statement to the House of Commons later Monday about the allegations of abuse.

Hoon needs to explain when the Ministry of Defense knew of the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners and how they acted on the ICRC report.

Blair said on Monday that the government would not object to the full publication of the report and will publish those sectionsin connection with British soldiers.

"In respect to the publication of that report, that's a matter for the Red Cross. That's not a matter for us. But I have to tell you, we are perfectly happy if they wish to publish it," said Blair.

Blair has made apology to the Iraqi prisoners abused by Britishtroops, saying such mistreatment, if true, would be "absolutely and totally unacceptable."