Newspaper editor resigns after publishing faked photos

[crawjo]

Photos published by the UK's Daily Mirror, depicting torture of prisoners, are now believed to be faked. The paper is now saying that they were duped by a "calculated and malicious hoax" and the editor of the paper has been forced to resign.

DAILY MIRROR EDITOR RESIGNS

May 14 2004

By Steve Purcell


The Editor of the Daily Mirror, Piers Morgan, resigned tonight as the row over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by British troops intensified.

The Daily Mirror has issued the following statement to the world's media:

The Daily Mirror published in good faith photographs which it absolutely believed were genuine images of British soldiers abusing an Iraqi prisoner.

However there is now sufficient evidence to suggest that these pictures are fakes and that the Daily Mirror has been the subject of a calculated and malicious hoax.

The Daily Mirror therefore apologises unreservedly for publishing the pictures and deeply regrets the reputational damage done to the QLR and the Army in Iraq.

The paper will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation.

The Board of Trinity Mirror has decided that it would be inappropriate for Piers Morgan to continue in his role as Editor of the Daily Mirror and he will therefore be stepping down with immediate effect.

Des Kelly, Deputy Editor, will assume the role of acting Editor.

[Stuckinagroove]

WOW.

[Tanager]

This story was all over BBC World last night (watching in my hotel) like a bad rash. At least I think it was last night, I'm a little toasty from the work schedule. I was pretty dismayed - I don't know who faked the photos in reality, but I think it's reasonable to assume they were done to try and further the case against the Iraq occupation by furthering charges that British troops were also involved in prisoner abuses. If my assumption is correct, the hoax has only damaged that same case, IMHO. Self-defeating bullshit.

[Richardo Caerleoni]

The "Daily Mirror" photographs (unfortunately) became the main story. Even if faked by UK troops as "trophies" (and what does that reveal about basic attitudes?), they served to open up the existence of two major reports - The Red Cross and Amnesty (below) – both not denied – and both of which would otherwise have never seen daylight. I'm not certainly defending the Mirror, just that its actions should not be used to undermine the wider evidence of what has really gone on.

There is now constant speculation in the UK media about how long Blair can stay in office, his refusal to distance himself from Bush, and the haemorrhage of key support in his own party. There are local and European elections in the UK next moth (June 10). Watch the results…


BBC NEWS ON-LINE 14 MAY 2004

What reports have there been about alleged abuse by UK troops?

The Red Cross has reported cases of abuse of arrested Iraqi men, one of whom died after being "severely beaten".

The cases came to light during an investigation of coalition prison facilities in central and southern Iraq by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The ICRC sent its confidential report to US and UK officials in February.

The issue of UK troops unlawfully killing Iraqi civilians has been raised by Amnesty International.

It claims the deaths occurred when the troops were under no threat from the people, including an 8-year-old girl and a man who was celebrating a wedding.

How many inquiries are there?

The Royal Military Police has investigated the Daily Mirror photos, and have questioned at least one soldier.

Prosecutors have been given the results of the inquiry and are considering whether to start legal proceedings.

Amnesty said many of the civilian deaths were not investigated. The few inquiries that were held were done "secretly" by RMP.

Mr Hoon has said that 33 cases of prisoner abuse among British forces had been investigated, or were still in the process of being investigated. Two are close to prosecution.

There was no case to answer on 15 of the cases.

Was the government aware of the abuse reports?

There is confusion about when and who within the government knew about the Red Cross and Amnesty International reports.

Amnesty International said it raised concerns with UK authorities a year ago, while the Red Cross said it told US officials about the same time.

On 4 May, Mr Ingram told the Commons he had not received any detailed reports from the Red Cross or Amnesty, but had had communications with them.

Defence minister Geoff Hoon said ministers had only seen the Red Cross report recently - in February.


However, Prime Minister Tony Blair said on 10 May that he was only aware of specific abuse allegations when he saw them in the newspapers.

He added that the Red Cross February report had not gone to ministers earlier because allegations were already being probed.