More photos surface of Iraq prisoner abuse

Another 24 photographs depicting "apparent abusive acts by US forces" have surfaced in the investigation of mistreatment of Iraqi…

Another 24 photographs depicting "apparent abusive acts by US forces" have surfaced in the investigation of mistreatment of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, the Pentagon has said.

Thirteen of the photographs appeared to be images already seen in the international media, but 11 have not been identified in previous investigations, according to a Pentagon letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

A picture obtained by ABC News shows Sergeant Charles Graner posing over the body of detainee Manadel a-Jamadi
A picture obtained by ABC News shows Sergeant Charles Graner posing over the body of detainee Manadel a-Jamadi

"They may not be original or true photographs," Mr Powell Moore, assistant defence secretary for legislative affairs, wrote to the committee.

He said they were given to the Criminal Investigation Command in Baghdad "under circumstances that warranted investigation, including forensic computer evaluation."

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Mr Moore said the committee would be told the results of the examination as they become available.

Two photos not previously seen in the media of US soldiers posing with the body of a detainee at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison were shown on US television yesterday evening.

In separate photos shown on ABC News, Specialist Sabrina Harmon and Specialist Charles Graner are seen smiling and giving a "thumbs-up" sign over the body of a man identified by ABC as Mr Manadel al-Jamadi, an Iraqi who died in US custody at the prison.

ABC reported on its website that the photos were taken by Sgt Charles Frederick, who in e-mails to his family questioned why those responsible for the prisoner's death were not being prosecuted in the same manner that he is.

Sgt Frederick, Specialist Harmon and Specialist Graner are among six US military police facing charges over the abuse of detainees. A seventh soldier, Jeremy Sivits, was sent to jail and dismissed from the army yesterday after pleading guilty in the first abuse trial.

Senator John Warner, a Virginia Republican who chairs the committee, announced at a hearing on the abuses scandal at Abu Ghraib prison earlier in the day that the Pentagon had found another disc of images. But he said he had no other information at that time.

Members of Congress last week saw more than 1,600 images from the investigation, which they said showed shocking examples of abuse and sexual humiliation of prisoners.