Bush shown photos of prisoner abuse

US President George W. Bush was shown on Monday some photos showing Iraqi prisoners abused by American soldiers in Iraq, a senior defense official said on Monday.

The more than a dozen large color prints were from among hundreds of abuse photographs taken at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq that have not been made public, the official said.

Bush was at the Pentagon in the morning where he receive a closed briefing on Iraq from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld andother senior military officials.

"The president's reaction was one of deep disgust and disbeliefthat anyone who wears our uniform would engage in such shameful and appalling acts," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told a news briefing.

"It does not represent our United States military and it does not represent the United States of America," he said.

The issue whether to release the images to the public was discussed at the Pentagon briefing, McClellan said.

"They also believe it is very important to keep Congress informed about these matters," he said.

Besides the photos, the Defense Department also has in its possession some short videos showing abuses, Defense Department spokesman Larry DiRita said. "There is clearly inappropriate behavior, including some inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature," he said.

DiRita said the Pentagon was in discussion with lawmakers on whether to release the images to the public.

Source: Xinhua