‘Their [British troops] presence there, under a UN resolution, helping Iraqis is of fundamental importance, not just to the security in Iraq but to the security of Britain.’
Tony Blair
‘This is proof of the violations of human rights being committed by British troops.’
Akil al-Bahadily, official from the Basra office of radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr
‘The actions of a tiny minority must not be allowed to taint the reputation of the Forces.’
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Liam Fox, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
‘Britain has dramatically found itself in its own Abu Ghraib scandal.’
Nigel Parry, writing for Chicago-based www.ElectronicIraq.net
‘Even the suggestion of abuse weakens our position in Iraq and makes the need for a coherent exit strategy all the more urgent.’
Michael Moore, Liberal Democrat defence spokesman
‘We hope that the good relations that the multinational forces have worked very hard to develop won’t be adversely affected by this material.’
Flight Lieutentant Chris Thomas, British military spokesman in Basra
‘We thank God that it comes from their own photography. Many consider the actions normal compared to what happens behind closed doors, which is greater’
Muhannad al-Moussaoui, Basra resident
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‘The majority of these young British soldiers have a racist mentality. Going to Iraq and Afghanistan to kill non-Europeans is a dream come true’
Zarah Kahn, Afghanistan, posted on www.aljazeera.com
‘It will cause a lot of trouble in Iraq. It emphasises the whole point that the continued presence of British and American forces in Iraq are part of the problem, not the solution’
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Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP
‘Just as free speech is an important value (when it suits) to you in the West, so the right not to have one’s head kicked in is an important value to people in the Middle East!’
Shazad Aziz, posted on www.newsforums.bbc.co.uk
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‘First reaction, like everybody else, is a reaction of horror. If this is true, then sadly those squaddies are going to be dismissed, no question about it’
Stephen Pound, Labour MP