Iraq photos ordered released

NEW YORK -- A federal judge yesterday ordered the release of dozens more pictures of prisoners being abused at Abu Ghraib, rejecting government arguments that the images would provoke terrorists and incite violence against US troops in Iraq.

US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein said that terrorists ''do not need pretexts for their barbarism" and that suppressing the pictures would amount to submitting to blackmail.

''Our nation does not surrender to blackmail, and fear of blackmail is not a legally sufficient argument to prevent us from performing a statutory command," he said. ''Indeed, the freedoms that we champion are as important to our success in Iraq and Afghanistan as the guns and missiles with which our troops are armed."

The photographs covered by yesterday's ruling were taken by a soldier. A military policeman who saw them turned them over to the Army.

An appeal of Hellerstein's ruling is expected, which could delay release of the pictures for months.

General John Abizaid, commander of US Central Command, said Thursday yesterday that releasing the photos would hinder his work against terrorism.