British and American newspapers published photos today showing an imprisoned Saddam Hussein clad only in his underwear and washing his laundry.
The photos prompted an angry US military to launch an investigation and the Red Cross to say the photos may violate the Geneva Conventions.
Britain’s The Sun and The New York Post said the photos were provided by a US military official it did not identify.
The Saddam photos not only angered the US military, which issued a condemnation rare for its immediacy, but also were expected to further fuel anti-American sentiment in a country edging towards open sectarian conflict.
“This is an insult to show the former president in such a condition. Saddam is from the past now, so what is the reason for this? It is bad work from the media. Do they want to degrade the Iraqi people? Or they want to provoke their feelings,” said a 45-year-old businessman in Baghdad, Abu Barick.
American President George W Bush was briefed by his senior aides this morning about the photos’ existence and “strongly supports the aggressive and thorough investigation that is already underway” that seeks to find who took them, White House spokesman Trent Dufy said.
Bush said he did not think the photos would incite further anti-American sentiment in Iraq. “I don’t think a photo inspires murderers,” Bush said.
Posted on: Apr 18, 2006
Recently Added Press Releases from Politics Category
