8 U.S. soldiers to be charged for death of Iraqi civilian: reports

Seven U.S. marines and a navy corpsman will be charged for the shooting death of an Iraqi civilian in April, U.S. media reported Thursday.

Quoting a defense lawyer in the case, the reports said the eight soldiers, currently confined in a military camp in California, will be charged for the crimes of murder, kidnapping and conspiracy.

The charges will be filed as early as Friday.

According to U.S. military law, after charges are filed, there will be a judicial hearing.

A presiding officer of the hearing will then make a recommendation to a general, who will decide whether to order a court-martial and what charges the defendants will face.

A separate Pentagon investigation is focusing on the alleged killings of 24 Iraqi civilians by U.S. marines in the western Iraqi town of Haditha last November.

U.S. President George W. Bush said Wednesday that he was "troubled" by reports of alleged war atrocities of U.S. troops in Iraq and promised that if "laws were broken, there will be punishment."

Source: Xinhua