Arab channels broadcast US abuse images

ARAB TV stations led their newscasts yesterday with the CBS photographs of US military police humiliating Iraqi prisoners. One channel called the pictures evidence of the “immoral practices” of US forces.

The Dubai-based Al-Arabiya and Qatar-based Al-Jazeera channels blurred the nudity of the prisoners.

The images were potentially inflammatory in an Arab world already angry at the US occupation. Arabs consider public nudity dishonourable.

“This will increase the sense of dissatisfaction among Iraqis toward the Americans,” said US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council member Mahmoud Othman. “The resistance people will try to make use of such painful incidents.”

Al-Jazeera introduced the pictures by saying they showed the “immoral practices” of Iraq’s occupation forces. The anchor reported some of those responsible would face trial and could be discharged from the Army.