LONDON (AP) — The Daily Mirror newspaper apologized Friday for publishing faked photographs of alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners by British forces, and the editor stepped down.

"The Daily Mirror published in good faith photographs which it absolutely believed were genuine images of British soldiers abusing an Iraqi prisoner," the newspaper said.

"However, there is now sufficient evidence to suggest that these pictures are fakes, and that the Daily Mirror has been the subject of a calculated and malicious hoax."

The British government had denounced the photos as fake on Thursday, and the regiment involved said it had conclusive evidence that a truck seen in the photos had never been in Iraq — where the Daily Mirror had claimed the photos were taken.

The newspaper said it would be "inappropriate" for Piers Morgan to continue as editor. He resigned effective immediately.