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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Obama defends abuse photos U-turn | Obama defends abuse photos U-turn |
| (20 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 the US. | 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 had been preparing to release the images, reportedly taken in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the dispute could now end up before the US Supreme Court. | |
| Barack Obama explains why he doesn't want the release of the photos | |
| Speaking outside the White House, Mr Obama said he would not tolerate the abuse of prisoners. | Speaking outside the White House, Mr Obama said he would not tolerate the abuse of prisoners. |
| 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". | 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". |
| The Pentagon had not sought to conceal anything, he added, and appropriate action had been taken against individuals involved in abuses. | The Pentagon had not sought to conceal anything, he added, and appropriate action had been taken against individuals involved in abuses. |
| 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 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. |