Obama fights release of abuse photos

IN a U-turn, US President Barack Obama is fighting the release of dozens of new photos showing US personnel allegedly abusing prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan, a White House official said.

Obama’s decision came after the top military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan told him they feared the release of the photos could endanger their troops. Obama decided he did not feel comfortable with the release and instructed his legal team to challenge it in court, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Obama has instructed lawyers to make the case that the national security implications of such a release have not been fully presented, the official said.