The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has condemned photographs showing British soldiers apparently abusing Iraqi prisoners as appalling and shocking.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Blair said the difference between democracy and tyranny was that in a democracy when bad things happen the perpetrators were held to account.
Opposition parties in Britain meanwhile fear the photographs could lead to a backlash against serving soldiers ahead of Iraq's elections at the end of this month.
Many of the 22 images, which were released on Monday at the court martial in Germany of three members of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, have been broadcast across the Arab world.
The court martial continued today.
The photos were taken at a humanitarian aid camp near Basra in May 2003, just weeks after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.
The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell, said the images were deeply disturbing.
