BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) – New images showing Iraqis abused by US guards at Abu Ghraib prison three years ago threatened yesterday to inflame public anger already running high following release this week of footage of British soldiers beating youths in southern Iraq.

Images of naked prisoners, some bloodied and lying on the floor, were taken about the same time as earlier photos that triggered a worldwide scandal and led to military trials and prison sentences for several lower-ranking American soldiers.

One of the video clips shown by Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service depicted a group of naked men with bags over their heads standing together and masturbating. The network said they were forced to participate.

The Pentagon deplored publication of the pictures, some of which were aired later in the Middle East by Al-Jazeera. The Arab satellite station refrained from airing some of the most shocking and sexually explicit pictures.

“We condemn and denounce any kind of abuse of human rights,” deputy Human Rights Minister Aayda Asran said. “We should not keep silent about such insults, which we reject.”

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the Defence Department believed the release of additional images of prisoner abuse was harmful and “could only further inflame and possibly incite unnecessary violence in the world”.

Whitman said he did not know whether US officials had reviewed the photos and video clips or whether they were among a group of images the Pentagon had been withholding from public release since 2004.