±±¾©Èü³µpk10

In a story in The Guardian this morning, military experts said they were finding it "impossible" to tell if the pictures were authentic or not as they do not have enough detail to allow analysts to reach solid conclusions.

Early examinations have suggested a raft of inconsistencies, ranging from the wrong kind of weapon, the cleanliness of the truck and soldier's uniform among others, pointing to the pictures being faked with suspicion falling on Territorial Army soldiers.

The Royal Military Police's special investigations branch is now looking for two soldiers who passed the pictures to the Daily Mirror. The paper is continuing to say that it will not reveal the names of the two men.

Yesterday, MPs were calling for Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan to resign if the pictures were proved, as some experts believe, fake and the paper a victim of an elaborate hoax.

A report in the Financial Times today says that Sly Bailey, chief executive of the Daily Mirror's owner Trinity Mirror, approved publication of the photographs.

The paper is understood to have paid the two men, although it has been denied they picked up as much as £10,000.

British Army investigators have said that without the identities of the two men the investigation may hit a dead end.

Morgan will now appear before the Commons' defence committee to give evidence about the pictures.

In a statement, the committee said: "This will give him a chance to substantiate his newspaper's allegations. It will enable us to satisfy ourselves whether he and his staff have acted responsibly."

Two Mirror journalists were interviewed at the newspaper's Canary Wharf headquarters on Tuesday but they refused to be drawn about the identity of their sources.

Defence sources told The Guardian the Mirror had "dug in". Of the pictures, one source said: "It is impossible to tell if they were faked. The SIB is in an impossible position. They are going to have to rely on someone coming forward."

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .