"It is clear that the pictures were taken inside the prison, which means that American soldiers have leaked the pictures," said Hussein's chief lawyer, Ziad al-Khasawneh. He said the photos "add to acts that are practiced against the Iraqi people, and of course we remember what happened in Abu Ghraib and we remember what happened in Guantanamo." Hussein's attorney said he would sue the newspaper "and everyone who helped in showing these pictures."

The U.S. military in Baghdad said the publication of the photos violated U.S. military guidelines "and possibly Geneva Convention guidelines for the humane treatment of detained individuals." A spokesman, Staff Sgt. Don Dees, said the military would question the troops responsible for Hussein.

Army Maj. Flora Lee, Multinational Forces spokeswoman in Baghdad, said the photos could have been taken from January 2004 to April 2004, "based on the background of the photos and appearance of him." Hussein, who was captured in December 2003, has been jailed at a complex near Baghdad airport named Camp Cropper, which holds 110 high-profile detainees.

Aside from U.S. soldiers, the only others with access to Hussein are his legal team, prosecuting judge Raed Johyee and the International Committee for the Red Cross. The ICRC also criticized the publishing the photos. Some Iraqis called the photos of Hussein the latest in a series of insults to Arabs and Muslims. Others disagreed. "This is an insult to show the former president in such a condition. Saddam is from the past now, so what is the reason for this? It is bad work from the media. Do they want to degrade the Iraqi people? Or they want to provoke their feelings," said Baghdadi Abu Barick.