Group criticizes Obama over photo release

WASHINGTON, May 13 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama should have allowed the release of photos depicting abuse of terror detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan, a rights group said.

Obama's decision not to release the photos "strikes a blow to transparency and accountability," Human Rights Watch said in a statement Wednesday.

"We understand President Obama's concern about protecting U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the real danger comes not from the knowledge that abuse happened but the sense that those responsible for planning and authorizing it haven't been held accountable," said Stacy Sullivan, the group's counter-terrorism adviser.

Obama citied national security as a reason for delaying the photos' release, a spokesman said.

The president "believes that the release of these photos could pose a threat to the men and women we have in harm's way (in) Iraq and Afghanistan and doesn't believe ... that the government made the strongest case possible (arguing on national security grounds) to the court and asked the legal team to go make that case," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said during a Wednesday news briefing.

Photos of Iraqi detainee abuse at the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison released in 2006 sparked an international scandal and resulted in the firing of the prison's commander and criminal convictions for several guards.

Obama discussed his decision with U.S. Army Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, and Christopher Hill, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Gibbs said. The Pentagon had said it would release the pictures this month.