Obama seeks to block release of detainee-abuse photos

In a reversal, US President Barack Obama has objected to the release of dozens of photographs showing the abuse of terrorism suspects, fearing the pictures could fuel anti-American sentiment and trigger a backlash against US troops.In a reversal, President Barack Obama objected on Wednesday to the release of dozens of photographs showing the abuse of terrorism suspects, fearing the pictures could trigger a backlash against U.S. troops.The Obama administration had said last month it would comply with a court order to release the pictures by May 28, amid concerns that they could fan the flames of a political firestorm over the treatment of terrorism suspects and other detainees during George W. Bush’s presidency.A U.S. official said Obama told his legal team last week that he did not feel comfortable with the release of the photos although in no way did he excuse the behavior of those responsible for tough interrogation tactics.“The president strongly believes that the release of these photos, particularly at this time, would only serve the purpose of inflaming the theaters of war, jeopardizing U.S. forces, and making our job more difficult in places like Iraq and Afghanistan,” the official said.