A military policeman (24) will face a public court martial in Baghdad next week and will be the first of seven US soldiers to be tried on charges of abusing Iraqi prisoners.
Specialist Jeremy Sivits faces three charges, including one of maltreating detainees. The US military has promised full media access when he goes on trial on May 19th, although television coverage has not been indicated.
"It is not our intention to hide anything," Brig Gen Mark Kimmitt told a news conference, though he has insisted there would be no "show trial."
The case was opened in January but blew up into a major scandal 10 days ago when a US television station published photographs showing grinning soldiers at Abu Ghraib with naked and hooded Iraqis in sexually humiliating postures. US media say Specialist Sivits may have been among those who took the photographs.
The Washington Postquoted a Pentagon official yesterday saying more shocking images, including video and featuring "live-action abuse," could be released soon.
The bloodshed and dismay among Iraqis and Americans at the torture and murder of prisoners by US soldiers has not helped Mr Bush's task in justifying his Iraq campaign to voters as he seeks re-election in November.
The most recent Gallup poll showed his approval rating on Iraq had fallen by almost a third to 42 per cent since January.