Amid continuing shock in Australia over allegations of US and British soldiers torturing Iraqi prisoners, colleagues of the six men, local residents and animal welfare groups have all expressed horror at the soldiers' cruelty.

The six, from an army support battalion based at Townsville's Lavarack Barracks, were fined by the local magistrates court Monday after pleading guilty to cruelty to animals charges.

But a spokesman for the Australian Defence Force said their commanding officer has issued them with a notice to show cause why they should not be dismissed.

"This has shocked a lot of people and the army will not condone this type of behaviour," defence spokesman Brian Hickey told AFP.

Police told the hearing the soldiers had tied a rope around one kitten's neck then dragged it behind a motor-bike along a bitumen road.

The kitten survived but was then placed behind the rear wheel of a vehicle and when its handbrake was released, it rolled back and crushed the kitten to death.

Three other kittens were then thrown one by one on to the road, where fuel was poured over them and they were set alight and burnt to death.

Magistrate David Glasgow said the soldiers had brought disgrace and dishonour to the army by their actions, but did not record a conviction against them.

The six, Ben Lightbody, 21, Brett Neville, 26, Casey Parker, 21, Geoffrey Symonds, 20, Darryl Llewellin, 26, and Christopher James Murray, 19, were each fined 2,000 dollars (1,400 US) and ordered to to perform 100 hours of service at the RSPCA.

But Queensland state RSPCA chief executive Mark Townsend said his staff did not want the help of people who would do that to animals.

"I don't think those soldiers would actually be able to turn and help at all with the shelter until they had some other counselling," he said.

"Normal people don't burn cats alive and don't drag them behind motorbikes. There's a lot more serious problem there than just turning up to the RSPCA and doing some work to make them feel better."

The animal protection body also bitterly criticised the 2,000 dollar fines imposed on the soldiers, describing them as "manifestly inadequate" when a maximum penalty of 75,000 dollars was available to magistrates for such offences.

The Returned Services League (RSL) ex-services group also expressed horror, saying the soldiers should be dismissed.

"I'm horrified and appalled to say the least," RSL President Major General Bill Crews told ABC Radio.

"There is no explanation for why a person would reasonably do that. They have disgraced the army through their behaviour, it's as simple as that, and it's not acceptable to the army, I feel sure."

WAR.WIRE