Rumsfeld apology fails to calm Arab anger

"While he (Rumsfeld) has been in charge, murder, torture and humiliation were heaped on Iraqi detainees almost as a matter of course," the Saudi daily Arab News commented.

"Rumsfeld's apology came too late," said Jordanian analyst Hani Hourani.

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"I believe Rumsfeld should resign because the torture reflected a widespread policy adopted by the US army in Iraq and maybe Afghanistan as well," he added.

Rumsfeld took responsibility on Friday for abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US troops and offered his "deepest apology" to victims during US Senate hearings broadcast live in the Arab world as well as the United States.

But Rumsfeld said he would not resign just to satisfy his political enemies.

Arabic newspapers, from Egypt's opposition al-Wafd to Saudi Arabia's semi-official Okaz, fronted pictures of Rumsfeld looking troubled with his hands over his face.

The abuses by US forces recalled the brutality of Saddam Hussein's regime, said Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Salem al-Sabah.

"For us in Kuwait these (abuses) mean a lot of things, and recall the brutal acts by Saddam Hussein's regime in the same prison, Abu Ghraib, which held many Kuwaiti detainees," he was quoted on Saturday by newspapers as saying.

The Arab News dismissed Rumsfeld's review of the scandal.

"Rumsfeld's suggestion that an independent inquiry be set up into what happened is a waste of time, and Iraqis simply do not have time to waste," it said.

"If he resigns without fuss, perhaps he may begin to redeem himself by making a tiny contribution to the restoration of America's good name in the world."