A US military investigation has begun following the publication in a British tabloid newspaper of photographs showing the ousted Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, in his underwear.
The Sun newspaper said that the pictures were handed over by US sources who wanted to deal a body blow to the Iraqi resistance.
The paper quotes the source as saying: ‘Saddam is not superman or God, he is just an ageing and humble old man.
'It is important that the people of Iraq see him like that to destroy the myth. Maybe that will kill a bit of the passion in the fanatics who still follow him.'
The pictures also show Hussein handwashing clothes and asleep on his bed.
However, the US military said the pictures, which might be a year old, contravened Saddam's rights as a prisoner and could have violated the Geneva Convention.
