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Obama U-turn on abuse photographs Obama defends abuse photos U-turn
(10 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has said the release of more photos of prisoner abuse by US soldiers is "of no benefit" and may inflame opinion against troops. US President Barack Obama has said the release of more photos of prisoner abuse by US soldiers is "of no benefit" and may inflame opinion against the US.
The pictures were not "sensational" and every case of abuse had been dealt with by the military, with action taken where appropriate, he said.The pictures were not "sensational" and every case of abuse had been dealt with by the military, with action taken where appropriate, he said.
The White House previously said it would not fight a court ruling ordering the release of the pictures.The White House previously said it would not fight a court ruling ordering the release of the pictures.
The pictures were due to be released by 28 May, according to the court order.The pictures were due to be released by 28 May, according to the court order.
The order was issued by an appeals court in September 2008, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the American Civil Liberties Union (Aclu). The order was issued by an appeals court in September 2008, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
'Disappointed''Disappointed'
The US defence department was preparing to release the images but Mr Obama has now directed his White House Counsel, Greg Craig, to raise an objection to their publication. The US defence department had been preparing to release the images and the dispute could now end up before the US Supreme Court.
White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs explains President Obama's decisionWhite House Spokesman Robert Gibbs explains President Obama's decision
The dispute could now end up before the US Supreme Court. Speaking outside the White House, Mr Obama said he would not tolerate the abuse of prisoners.
"The president does not believe that the strongest case regarding the release of these photos was presented to the court, and that was a case based on his concern about what the release of these would do to our national security," White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs said earlier. However, he had, he said, directed his legal team to fight the court-ordered release of the photos because he was concerned they might "inflame anti-American opinion and put our troops in greater danger".
"He believes that the release of these photos could pose a threat to the men and women we have in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan." The Pentagon had not sought to conceal anything, he added, and appropriate action had been taken against individuals involved in abuses.
Mr Obama had been advised against publication by Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Centcom commander Gen David Petraeus and the commander of US forces in Iraq, Gen Ray Odierno, a Pentagon official said. The president had been advised against publication by Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Centcom commander Gen David Petraeus and the commander of US forces in Iraq, Gen Ray Odierno, a Pentagon official said.
The Aclu said it was "surprised and disappointed" by Mr Obama's decision and that it would continue to fight for the photographs' release. The ACLU said it was "surprised and disappointed" by Mr Obama's decision and that it would continue to fight for the photographs' release.
The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says that although President Obama has insisted on the need for open government, it appears that on this issue he has been persuaded that - for now at least - such transparency risks doing more harm than good.The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says that although President Obama has insisted on the need for open government, it appears that on this issue he has been persuaded that - for now at least - such transparency risks doing more harm than good.
US MEDIA REACTIONS TO OBAMA'S DECISION