Finland consciously broke the laws of war during the continuation war of 1941 to 1944, according to a history study published on Thursday.

In his book Vakoojakoulu (spy school), Mikko Porvali claims that selected Soviet prisoners of war were dressed in Red Army officers' uniforms and sent back as spies for Finnish military intelligence.

"I believe that when training prisoners of war as spies the Finns knew it was against the laws of war and humanitarian law. According to the Hague Conventions it is not allowed to use the enemy's uniform in war," Mr Porvali said.

The Soviet spies were trained by Russian speaking Finnish officers at a special intelligence school in the city of Petrozavodsk in eastern Karelia, occupied by Finland during the continuation war.

STT