Gleneagles, Scotland: An eight-kilometre ring of steel, 10,000 police on standby, watchtowers, and a no-fly zone; Gleneagles Hotel was locked down yesterday as a sophisticated G8 security operation to protect the world's most powerful men came into force.

British and American aid intended for Iraq's hard-pressed police service is being diverted to paramilitary commando units accused of widespread human rights abuses, including torture and extra-judicial killings, The Observer can reveal.