The reported killing of up to 24 Iraqi civilians by U.S. Marines in one incident last year could have worse implications for U.S. image than the notorious Abu Ghraib prison scandal, a U.S. lawmaker said on Sunday.

Democratic Rep. John Murtha said on "This Week" on ABC network Sunday that he believed that someone up the U.S. chain of command had attempted to cover up the incident which occurred on Nov. 19 last year at Haditha in western Iraq.

"There's no question about what happened. And the problem is who covered it up and why did they cover it up? Why did they wait so long? " Murtha asked.

According to Murtha, the incident started when a roadside improvised explosive device (IED)hit a convoy of U.S. Marines in the town of Haditha, killing a Marine. U.S. Marines then shot and killed four or five unarmed Iraqis in a taxi on the scene. They then went on a rampage throughout nearby houses and killed unarmed civilians, including children and women.

"One woman, as I understand it in talking to the officials in the Marine Corps, was bending over her child, pleading for mercy, and they shot her in cold blood," said Murtha.

He also noted that the reports he received from the highest level indicated that the incident was not triggered by any firing from the Iraqi side, nor there was any exchange of fire after the initial explosion.

"There's no question about it (a cover-up). First of all, they tried to say that the IED is what killed these people. The next day, there was a team out there investigating, as they always do, and then nothing happens. Nobody hears about it. They don't tell anybody. Until March when Time magazine broke the news, nobody realized or recognized what happened," Murtha said.

The U.S. lawmaker, who is known for his anti-war stance, also reiterated that the war in Iraq cannot be won militarily. "This is the kind of war where you have to win the hearts and minds of the people. We can't win this militarily. It's now got to be a political victory and we're set back every time something like this happens. This is worse than Abu Ghraib."

According to ABC reports, two separate military panels are poised to conclude their investigations and investigators are also compiling evidence of a cover-up. The TV network quoted Pentagon officials as saying that at least seven Marines could face criminal charges, ranging from dereliction of duty to murder.

Source: Xinhua