LONDON, May 13: Tony's Blair's government branded photographs apparently showing British soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners as fakes on Thursday, in a bid to contain the growing scandal over treatment of civilians.
As both British and US governments struggle against a storm of allegations, Armed Forces minister Adam Ingram also defended himself against accusations he misled parliament over what he knew and when.
"These pictures were categorically not taken in Iraq," mR Ingram said of the images published by The Daily Mirror newspaper, purporting to show British soldiers in an army truck urinating on a hooded Iraqi prisoner.
He challenged the newspaper to cooperate with the military investigation probing the matter but declined to give further details while the inquiry continued.
The Conservative opposition asked the Mirror's publishers what action they intended to take against editor Piers Morgan. "Those who connived with the production of those photographs and those who published them did a great wrong," said Conservative defence spokesman Keith Simpson.
Genuine or not, observers say the pictures have already damaged the reputation of British troops by linking them in Arab minds with U.S troops who are facing more serious allegations.
"The vehicle has been identified, and it never left the UK. Where it was identified is not being revealed at the insistence of the Military Police," a source at the Queen's Lancashire Regiment said.
WIDER ISSUE: Mr Morgan said in a statement the government had not produced incontrovertible evidence the pictures were faked and that there was a bigger issue that needed to be highlighted.
"The pictures accurately illustrated the reality about the appalling conduct of some British troops," he said. Government officials admit the wider saga is far from over, as damning reports from the International Committee of the Red Cross and Amnesty International have raised concerns about British forces' treatment of Iraqi prisoners and civilians.
The Conservatives said Mr Ingram may have misled the House of Commons last week by saying he had received no "adverse" reports about the conduct of British troops. Ingram argued he had not seen a full report, only a one-page letter listing concerns.
Amnesty said it alerted Ingram of concerns late last year about British troops killing Iraqi civilians - including an eight-year-old girl - when they posed no apparent threat. It also said the minister acknowledged receipt of the letter. -Reuters