Britain in uproar over Iraq photos

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LONDON, May 3 (UPI) -- Published photos of British soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners have caused an uproar throughout Britain, The Mirror reported Monday.

The newspaper defended its decision to publish the photos over the weekend, with a statement from editor Piers Morgan, who wrote "The Mirror makes no apology for exposing this outrageous and unlawful behavior" in which photos show a hooded prisoner being urinated on and beaten with rifle butts.

The pictures were published Saturday, and allegations they had been faked came quickly from an opposition Conservative spokesman and a BBC correspondent.

One of two unidentified soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment present when the pictures were taken told the newspaper "This happened, it is not a hoax and the Army knows a lot more has happened."

An unnamed officer told GMTV Sunday that senior ranks had turned a "blind eye" to mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners.

"People were literally getting serious beating or kickings ... you're talking broken ribs, punctured lungs sort of thing," the officer said.