8:03pm UK, Thursday May 06, 2004

The US President has for the first time apologised in public for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by his troops.

George Bush said he was "sorry for the humiliation and suffering" inflicted on the detainees.

Bush apologised to Abdullah

He had been criticised after condemning the acts by US troops on Arabic television, but failing to issue a direct and public apology.

The issue has proved very problematic for Mr Bush, whose criticism of secretary of state for defence, Donald Rumsfeld, over the issue has been revealed.

He repeated his apology to reporters, initially made in a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II.

Mr Bush said: "I told him I was sorry for the humiliation suffered by the Iraqi prisoners and the humiliation suffered by their families.

"I told him I was as equally sorry that people seeing those pictures didn't understand the true nature and heart of America."

The American leader also said he had told Mr Rumsfeld he should have been informed about the torture pictures before they were splashed on TV screens.

But reiterating his support for Mr Rumsfeld, he said: "He is an important part of my cabinet and he will stay in my cabinet."

The much wanted apology came the day an American newspaper published more pictures of US troops abusing Iraqi captives.