Customer walks out from general store past copy of Saturday edition of Iraq's Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, showing picture of Saddam Hussein seated in white robe, Saturday

The United States says it is investigating how pictures of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in U.S. custody were released to the media.

Saturday, the British tabloid The Sun published a photo of Saddam seen through barbed wire. It also printed pictures of Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali", and Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, known as "Mrs. Anthrax", in captivity.

Friday, The Sun and The New York Post, which are both owned by Rupert Murdoch, published other photos of Saddam, including one in which he is in his underwear.

The Pentagon says the photographs were taken in violation of U.S. policy and possibly the Geneva Convention on the treatment of detainees.

The Sun says it obtained them from a U.S. military source.

A lawyer for Saddam questioned why the ousted leader has been held since late 2003 without being charged. He says Saddam's legal team plan to sue over the photographs.