Three US soldiers charged with murder of Iraqi detainees
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Three US soldiers have been charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the deaths of three male Iraqi detainees in military custody, the US military said.
It said three Iraqi detainees died during an operation May 9 near Thar Thar Canal in Salaheddin province, but provided no other details about the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
"A noncommissioned officer and two soldiers each have been charged with violating several articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, communicating a threat, and obstructing justice," the military said in a statement from Tikrit, Iraq.
The soldiers, who were not identified by name, were from the 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, the military said.
"The soldiers are currently in pre-trial confinement awaiting an Article 32 hearing to determine if sufficient evidence exists for the case to be referred to court-martial," it said.
A preliminary investigation was ordered the same day as their deaths after suspicions were raised by other US soldiers.
The army's Criminal Investigative Division opened a formal criminal investigation May 17.
The case is the latest in a series involving allegations that US troops killed Iraqi non-combatants.
The most serious to date are allegations that US marines went on a rampage at Haditha in western Iraq November 19, killing 24 civilians after a marine was killed by a roadside bomb.
An investigation into how the Haditha deaths were handled by the military chain of command has been completed and is now before Lieutenant General Peter Chiarelli, the number two US commander in Iraq.
A separate criminal probe into the Haditha killings is being conducted by the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Investigators also have been probing allegations that US marines shot to death an Iraqi man in the town of Hamandiyah in April, and left a shovel by his body to make it appear he was planting a roadside bomb.
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and share your thoughts. Sign Up
Hide
Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks