The U.S. Army says it has opened investigations into deaths of 10 prisoners and abuse of 10 more in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wednesday's announcement comes as U.S. commanders in Baghdad announced changes in the military's interrogation of prisoners.

And the White House is reaching out to the Arab world to try to blunt an escalating outrage in the Arab world over the widespread abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

U.S. President George W. Bush plans to do two 10-minute interviews with Arab television Wednesday to underscore his feelings about photographs of naked Iraqi prisoners of war being abused by gloating American soldiers.

For months, human rights groups and former prisoners complained of mistreatment at detention centers, but their protests were widely dismissed until the U.S. command started an investigation in January.

The allegations exploded onto the world stage this past week after CBS's "60 Minutes II" broadcast images allegedly showing Iraqis stripped naked, hooded and being tormented by their U.S. captors.