[JURIST] After hearing oral arguments Tuesday, US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein [Wikipedia profile] expressed hesitation over ordering the release of 97 Department of Defense [official website] photos and videotapes depicting the abuse of prisoners held by US forces at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison [JURIST news archive]. The request is part of a 2003 ACLU lawsuit [press release] in which the organization contends that release of the material is part of "our democratic idea of public accountability." US General Richard Myers [Wikipedia profile] and other US officials have warned the court [Myers affidavit, PDF] that the material will fuel insurgents and will spawn increased al Qaeda recruitment. AP has more.