A whistleblowing group has insisted its decision to publish secret US military documents was to reveal the truth about the war in Iraq despite criticism it could put the lives of British armed forces in danger.

WikiLeaks posted nearly 400,000 leaked classified reports on the internet which contain accounts of abuse and misconduct by Iraqi authorities and US forces. There are also some allegations of abuse by UK soldiers, the website said.

The reports relate to 109,000 deaths - including 66,000 civilians, of which 15,000 were previously undocumented, it claimed.

WikiLeak's founder Julian Assange told a news conference in central London: "This disclosure is about the truth. We hope to correct some of that attack on the truth that occurred before the war, during the war, and which has continued on since the war officially concluded."

The Ministry of Defence said the website had been reckless and was putting the lives of British military personnel in danger.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki condemned the leak as a political stunt and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also suggested the leaks put lives at risk.