The US government has asked the Supreme Court to block the publication of pictures of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to President Barack Obama releasing the images could fuel violence against US troops.

Some of the photos show an American soldier holding a pistol against the head of masked prisoner. A civil rights organisation has been trying to secure the publication of the pictures for some time. In May President Obama reversed a prior decision to release the pictures. Sources close the Pentagon said the decision followed pressure from military circles.

Photo ANP