Furore over 'Saddam in undies'

2005-05-20 11:05

London - The United States military on Friday condemned a British newspaper's decision to print photographs of a captive Saddam Hussein, including one showing him in his underwear.

A front-page picture in the tabloid Sun showed the former Iraqi dictator, clad only in white briefs, folding a pair of trousers. Another on an inside page showed Saddam hand-washing a piece of clothing.

The Sun said it obtained the photos from "US military sources."

A statement issued by the US military in Baghdad said the photos violated military guidelines "and possibly Geneva Convention guidelines for the humane treatment of detained individuals."

It said the source of the photos was unknown, but they were believed to have been taken more than a year ago. Saddam was captured by US forces in December 2003 and remains in custody. He is charged with war crimes, but no date has been set for his trial.

The military said it was "aggressively" investigating to determine who took the pictures.

"We take seriously our responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all detainees," the statement said.

- AP