A new batch of secret documents from the US military has suggested that senior commanders knew that Iraqi forces were maltreating their prisoners but they failed to take any action. Some 4, 00,000 documents released by the website Wikileaks describe torture and abuse of Iraqi detainees, including electrocutions and executions. Wikileaks documents also give details of American military operations in Iraq. In one case they appear to reveal a US helicopter being cleared to fire on a group of Iraqi insurgents trying to surrender, because the crew were told they could not surrender to an aircraft and were a valid target. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the disclosure of any classified information that threatens national security or puts at risk lives of coalition forces or civilians. A Defence Department spokesman said if released on the internet the enemies would have access to an extraordinary data base to figure out US tactics.