San Diego, May 25, SPA -- A CIA official testified he witnessed the"pummeling" of a detainee at a Navy SEAL base in Baghdad in 2003, but a former SEAL who beat the prisoner said hewas acting on instructions from the CIA, The Associated Press reported. The differing accounts were offered as the court-martialof Navy SEAL Lt. Andrew Ledford got under way Tuesday.Ledford, accused of charges including assault, derelictionof duty and conduct unbecoming an officer, faces a maximumof 11 years in military prison if convicted. The CIA official, who was shielded from public view,testified he recalled seeing a small crowd gathered arounda SEAL who was landing blows on the back of the prisonerwho lay face down. The CIA official described it "as a kind of pummeling"and called it an isolated incident during his year in Iraq.He said his senior officer notified a SEAL commander at thescene to get control of his men and halt the abuse.--SPA1107 Local Time 0807 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/264943