Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/30/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH / IRAQ / PRISONERS (L UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-315514

BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// UPDATES 2-315507 TO DROP ALLEGED IN INTRO, FIRST GRAF OF TEXT. ALSO DROPS SUSPECTED FROM THIRD-TO-LAST GRAF OF TEXT ///

INTRO: President Bush has denounced the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U-S soldiers, saying he is disgusted by the way they were treated. Correspondent Meredith Buel reports from Washington.

TEXT: During a joint appearance at the White House with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, President Bush used strong words to condemn the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by American troops.

/// BUSH ACT #1 ///

I share a deep disgust that those prisoners were treated the way they were treated. Their treatment does not reflect the nature of the American people. That is not the way we do things in America and so I didn't like it one bit.

/// END ACT ///

President Bush said any U-S soldiers involved do not reflect the character of the men and women sent to Iraq.

/// BUSH ACT #2 ///

That is not the way the people are. It is not their character that are serving our nation and the cause of freedom. There will be an investigation and it will be taken care of.

/// END ACT ///

Photographs depicting the abuse are being published and shown around the world on television.

The pictures apparently show U-S soldiers laughing and giving the thumbs-up sign while naked, male Iraqi prisoners are stacked in a pyramid or positioned to perform sex acts.

Another Iraqi prisoner is shown standing on a box, his head covered, with wires attached to his hands. The prisoner was allegedly told he would be electrocuted if he fell off the box.

The suspected abuse took place at a prison (Abu Ghraib) outside Baghdad, which was a notorious penitentiary during the rule of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

The military has filed criminal charges against six U-S soldiers allegedly involved in the abuse, and the Army says more soldiers are expected to be charged in the future.

The Pentagon has also suspended a senior U-S military officer (Brigadier General Janis L. Karpinski) in charge of the prison. (Signed)

NEB/MB/FC/KL