The United States is bracing itself for further criticism over the treatment of Iraqi detainees after a judge ordered the release of another batch of photographs of alleged abuse at Abu Ghraib prison.

The American Civil Liberties Union has sought the release of 87 photographs and four videotapes from Abu Ghraib as part of a lawsuit demanding information on the treatment of detainees in American custody.

The Pentagon has resisted the application, saying that the images would cause an intensification in the attacks against United States forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein today dismissed these claims. He said that terrorists have proved that they no need "pretexts for their barbarism".

Several images of the abuse at the prison have already been widely distributed, but the lawsuit covers additional photos not yet seen by the public.

The judge said: "Our nation does not surrender to blackmail, and fear of blackmail is not a legally sufficient argument to prevent us from performing a statutory command.

"Indeed, the freedoms that we champion are as important to our success in Iraq and Afghanistan as the guns and missiles with which our troops are armed."

General Richard Myers, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, argued against publication saying in court papers that releasing the photographs would aid al-Qaeda recruitment, weaken the Afghan and Iraqi governments and incite riots against American troops.

But Mr Hellerstein said: "My task is not to defer to our worst fears, but to interpret and apply the law.

"The fight to extend freedom has never been easy, and we are once again challenged, in Iraq and Afghanistan, by terrorists who engage in violence to intimidate our will and to force us to retreat.

"Our struggle to prevail must be without sacrificing the transparency and accountability of government and military officials," he added.

The US Attorney’s office in Manhattan, which argued the case for the government, did not immediately have a comment on the ruling.

The decision came a day after Lynndie England, 22, the Army reservist who appeared in some of the infamous pictures of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib, was jailed for three years.

England was pictured holding a naked prisoner on a dog lead, posing with a pyramid of naked detainees and pointing at the genitals of a prisoner while a cigarette hung from the corner of her mouth.

During her trial in Texas, she told the jury: "I've heard that attacks were made on US forces,” and apologised to “detainees, the families, America and all the soldiers”.

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