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BBSNews - 2003-03-23 -- Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld confirmed on Sunday that there are US prisoners of war being held in Iraq. Al Jazeera has released video and stills of US personnel being held that will not be shown here. Still pictures are being shown in many places around the internet, many before Secretary Rumsfeld confirmed the capture of US troops on Sunday in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

"A grim-faced Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld saw the controversial videotape while appearing on a television interview program. He said if they are indeed American soldiers, then the imagery is a violation of international law because "the Geneva Convention indicates that it is not permitted to photograph and embarrass or humiliate prisoners of war." According to a VOA report.

The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) has not released any information about the current POW's.

There are pictures of Iraqi POW's being escorted by US forces including one receiving medical treatment at DefenseLink, those will also not be shown here.

Update DOD Release: Coverage of POWs and Deceased

Out of respect for the families and consistent with the principles of the Geneva Conventions:

1) We request news organizations not air or publish recognizable images or audio recordings that identify POWs. Additionally, we request you not use their names, first or last, or their unit until next-of-kin notification is complete. We are working hard to reach their families. We will notify you as soon as this is done.

2) We repeat standing policy that news organizations not air or publish recognizable images of deceased members of the U.S. military or use their names, first or last, or their unit, until next-of-kin notification is completed or 72 hours. We are working hard to reach their families. We will notify you as soon as this is done.

From the Department of Defense and news organizations. BBSNews is abiding Defense Department requests to not show identifiable American POW's. Updated 16:26 EST.

Michael Hess is the Editor of BBSNews in Charlotte, NC. Write to the editor here. Not all submissions are published. Or visit the completely new BBSNews Blog and Forum on our front page - Please Participate in BBSNews!