BRITAIN: British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair said the "shocking and appalling" photographs of the alleged abuse of Iraqi civilians by UK soldiers should not be allowed to "tarnish the good name" of Britain's armed forces.
However, while Westminster politicians endorsed that sentiment, pressure was building last night for an inquiry into the circumstances - and the chain of command - leading to the German court martial, and the consequent worldwide distribution of images which Conservative leader Mr Michael Howard said brought "shame" on Britain.
Raising the issue during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, Mr Howard said: "The appalling photograph's in [ Wednesday's] newspapers bring shame on our country.
"But we should recognise they in no way reflect the true character of Britain's armed forces."
However, he pressed Mr Blair: "While the current court martial will decide on individual issues of guilt or innocence, what steps will be taken to investigate the circumstances in which conduct of the kind alleged can take place?"
Mr Blair agreed: "I think everyone finds those photographs shocking and appalling - there are no other words to describe them." But he continued: "There are two points I want to make in fairness to our armed forces. The first is that the difference between democracy and tyranny is not that in a democracy bad things don't happen, but that in a democracy when they do happen people are held and brought to account. That is what is happening under our judicial system.
"The second thing to say is that the vast majority of those 65,000 British soldiers who have served in Iraq have done so with distinction, courage and with great honour to this country. So while we express in a unified way our disgust at those pictures, I hope we do not allow them to tarnish the good name, fully deserved, of our armed forces."
That point was echoed by Scottish National Party leader Mr Alex Salmond, who said "these dreadful images from Iraq" were damaging the UK's reputation abroad as well as placing British troops at greater risk.
"We must bear in mind that they are very much the exception to the rule and that the vast majority of soldiers are making the best of a very difficult job," said Mr Salmond.
However, with accused soldiers in Germany claiming to have acted under orders, Mr Salmond continued: "There must be an investigation into the circumstances that have led to these allegations. We should not just be looking at the lower ranks but address how this has been dealt with at the very highest levels."
Earlier Mr Blair told Liberal Democrat leader Mr Charles Kennedy there had been no request for additional troops to be sent to Iraq.