Judge orders release of detainee photos

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. government must release 20 pictures of U.S. soldiers and detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan, a federal appeals court ruled.

The photographs are being sought by the American Civil Liberties Union, which is seeking to expose abuse in the war-torn countries, Fox News Channel reported Monday.

The federal government argued in New York federal court that releasing the pictures could endanger U.S. troops and civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A federal judge had earlier ordered that identifying facial features be removed from the pictures before they are released, Fox reported.