GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP):

Guyana's main opposition party on Sunday said it will urge the United Nations to investigate claims of arbitrary arrests and abuse by Guyana's security forces, saying suspects have been beaten under interrogation.

Relatives of soldiers accused of smuggling assault rifles out of an army depot claimed their loved ones sustained various injuries by interrogating officers. Guyana Defense Force commanders in the small South American country have denied the allegations.

"We are looking at the U.N. Convention on Torture. We need to internationalise the issue, and we need to sensitise people here and abroad about the callousness," said Aubrey Norton, spokesman for the opposition People's National Congress.

They have a recourse

Speaking to reporters late Saturday, President Bharrat Jagdeo said his government does not allow torture or abuse in any form. He encouraged the accused soldiers, who have denied smuggling weapons out of military headquarters last year, to pursue their case in court. "(They) have a recourse. This is an open society," Jagdeo said.

Last year, two men accused of belonging to armed gangs told reporters they had been abused while under military detention. The pair were never charged, and the military denied the accusations.