Images of torture inflame anger of the Arab world

IRAQ: Photos of Iraqi prisoners being tormented and humiliated by US and British soldiers have enraged people across the Arab and Muslim worlds. The images, carried by satellite television channels and local newspapers, exacerbated resentment against the Bush administration.

The widely read Baghdad blogger (Internet correspondent) who calls herself "Riverbend", since she dwells on a bend in the Tigris, wrote: "We've been hearing terrible stories about Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad for a while now, but these pictures spoke like no words could ... It's beyond depressing and humiliating."

Amnesty International reported torture in the prison in a report in July 2003.

She continued: "You won't hear \ half of the atrocities and stories because Iraqis are a proud, indignant people and sexual abuse is not a subject anyone is willing to come forward with. The atrocities in Abu Ghraib and other places will be hidden away and buried under all the other dirt the occupation brought."

The Arab League secretary general, Mr Amr Mousa, expressed "shock and disgust" at the "shameful images" of abuse committed by "members of forces which pretend to defend the liberties and dignity of man". He said the ill-treatment of Iraqi detainees constituted a breach of international conventions.

The head of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, Mr Mehdi Akef, said that the images and reports of abuse were "only the tip of the iceberg which embodies American civilisation and democracy". A statement on the Brotherhood's website called upon Iraqi fighters to escalate operations against US troops.

Egypt's semi-official Al-Ahram said that the mistreatment of Iraqis shows "a clear disregard of international law and the Geneva conventions".

It added: "Statements of condemnations from Western capitals, particularly in the US and Britain, are not enough. This issue must be tackled seriously and decisively to prevent repetition of such acts."

Jordan's daily Al-Destour said the photographs constituted an "earthquake that shook the conscience of the world".

The Syrian official daily Al-Thawra considered the photographs to be "proof that acts of torture" are widespread and predicted that an "investigation will reveal frightening details".

Al-Riyadh, the daily published in the Saudi capital, observed: "The world was deceived by promises of freedom, protection of human rights and \ in the greater Middle East. But all these deceptions failed [to take hold], as the truth has now been revealed."

Jordanian independent daily Al-Arab al-Yawm wrote: "The revelation of such atrocities further strengthens the calls of the international community to hand over the Iraqi dossier to the UN."