Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

British Soldiers to Face Iraq Murder Charges
--------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=B5BE64:2AB91D3

Attorney-General Peter Goldsmith says incident occurred on road in
al-U'Zayra in May, 2003 Britain's attorney-general says seven
British soldiers will stand trial for allegedly murdering a civilian
in southern Iraq in 2003.

Attorney-General Peter Goldsmith says Thursday the incident occurred
on a road in al-U'Zayra in May, 2003.

Officials say the men also face charges of violent disorder. They gave
no other details, or mentioned a date for the proceedings.

Britain currently has about 9,000 troops deployed in southern
Iraq.  Since the U.S.-led invasion almost two years ago, British
officials have launched more than 130 investigations into incidents
ranging from road traffic accidents to deaths of Iraqis in custody.

Separately, British military prosecutors have dropped the remaining
charge against one of three soldiers accused of mistreating Iraqi
civilians in May, 2003, near the southern city of Basra.

The soldier, Lance Corporal Darren Larkin, earlier had pleaded guilty
to assaulting the Iraqi.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP.


.