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No charges over Iraq video riots No charges over Iraq video riots
(20 minutes later)
Nine British soldiers who were accused of beating Iraqi youths in disturbances caught on video will not face charges, Army lawyers have announced.Nine British soldiers who were accused of beating Iraqi youths in disturbances caught on video will not face charges, Army lawyers have announced.
The Army Prosecuting Authority (APA) said there was not enough evidence on most of the claims, and prosecution was "not in the public interest" on others.The Army Prosecuting Authority (APA) said there was not enough evidence on most of the claims, and prosecution was "not in the public interest" on others.
Video footage emerged in February 2006 of riots in the southern Iraqi town of al-Amarah during April 2004.Video footage emerged in February 2006 of riots in the southern Iraqi town of al-Amarah during April 2004.
The footage showed Iraqis allegedly being kicked, punched and head-butted.The footage showed Iraqis allegedly being kicked, punched and head-butted.
At one point some soldiers appeared to kick a dead body. At one point some soldiers - all of them believed to be from the 1st Battalion The Light Infantry - appeared to kick a dead body.
Army lawyers said the incident had been "thoroughly investigated" by the Royal Military Police. Stills from the video footage caused shock around the Middle East when they appeared in the News of the World newspaper and were broadcast on several TV news channels.
'Mortar blasts'
The APA said in a statement the incident had been "thoroughly investigated" by the Royal Military Police.
"It appeared that four Iraqi civilians had been snatched from a rioting crowd and brought inside a military compound where they were assaulted.
The APA has referred the case back to the Army who will now consider taking internal disciplinary and administrative action APA statement
"The video has a commentary appearing to encourage what was being done."
The APA said the footage also showed "immediately before the alleged assaults, the soldiers being attacked by mortar blast bombs and confronted by a riotous mob throwing stones".
The authority said it was only possible to identify two soldiers "apparently engaged in assaults footage".
But too much time had passed since the incident to allow a charge of battery, and there was insufficient evidence to allow more serious charges to be brought.
'Public interest'
Two servicemen could also have faced charges of committing "conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline" over "an alleged kick to the body of a deceased Iraqi civilian" and the commentary on the video.
"These charges do have a realistic prospect of conviction, but the APA took the view that the public interest did not require them to be tried by court martial," the authority said.
"They could be dealt with summarily by the commanding officer, or by internal Army administrative action which can impose a range of sanctions including termination of service."
The APA has handed the case back to the Army to consider what action needs to be taken.