IKEA expressed regret Friday that it benefited from the use of forced prison labour by some of its suppliers in communist East Germany more than 20 years ago.

The Swedish furniture giant released an independent report showing that East German prisoners, among them many political dissidents, were involved in the manufacture of goods supplied to IKEA between 25 and 30 years ago.

IKEA managers were aware that prisoners could be used and took some measures to prevent that, but they weren't enough, the report said.

AP