A former British military intelligence officer denied at a public inquiry Thursday that he had made death threats and fired shots while questioning Iraqi detainees in 2004.

A former British military intelligence officer denied at a public inquiry Thursday that he had made death threats and fired shots while questioning Iraqi detainees in 2004, Reuters reported.

The man, referred to as "M004," said the methods were used to disorient detainees, but denied beating or physically threatening the Iraqis.

He was giving evidence at the long-running Al-Sweady inquiry into events during and after a battle in southern Iraq on May 14, 2004.