United States defence officials are discovering that photographs of dead soldiers can wipe off the sheen from their propaganda campaign to convince American public that the US has all but won the war in Iraq.

The Los Angeles Times reports that a website has published previously censored pictures showing coffins containing the bodies of soldiers killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The publication caused Pentagon to renew its ban on releasing such images to the media.

The pictures were obtained by Russ Kick, who got them by filing a Freedom of Information Act request.

The pictures show flag-draped coffins filling aircraft cargo bays and being unloaded by white-gloved soldiers.

Air Force officials initially denied the request but relented last week and sent him more than 350 pictures of Iraq war dead arriving at the military's largest mortuary at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

Several major newspapers planned to publish the newly released photos on their front pages today.

Soon after the photographs were posted on the site, the defence department barred their further release to other media outlets, saying the photos violated the privacy of troops' families.

Agencies