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Court martial in Iraq rape case Court martial in Iraq rape case
(40 minutes later)
Four US soldiers are to face court martial over the alleged rape of an Iraqi girl and murder of her and her family, the US military has said.Four US soldiers are to face court martial over the alleged rape of an Iraqi girl and murder of her and her family, the US military has said.
Two of the soldiers could face the death penalty. Two of the soldiers could face the death penalty if found guilty.
The men, from the elite 101st airborne division, were at the time serving in Mahmoudiya, about 20 miles (32km) south of Baghdad.The men, from the elite 101st airborne division, were at the time serving in Mahmoudiya, about 20 miles (32km) south of Baghdad.
Four other soldiers accused of killing detainees in north Iraq are also to face court martial, the military said.Four other soldiers accused of killing detainees in north Iraq are also to face court martial, the military said.
Military authorities said they would seek the death penalty against Sgt Paul Cortez and Pfc Jesse Spielman. Combat stress
Spc James P. Barker and Pfc Bryan L. Howard are also accused in the rape and murders but will not face the death penalty. All four are soldiers from the 2nd Brigade and are charged with premeditated murder and rape. Three are also charged with arson and housebreaking.
The military said Sgt Paul Cortez and Pfc Jesse Spielman could face the death penalty if found guilty, while Spc James P Barker and Pfc Bryan L Howard could face life-long jail terms.
The men are alleged to have helped a former private - Steven Green, who has since left the army - plan, carry out and cover up the attack.The men are alleged to have helped a former private - Steven Green, who has since left the army - plan, carry out and cover up the attack.
Mr Green has pleaded not guilty in a federal court and will be tried separately in the US.Mr Green has pleaded not guilty in a federal court and will be tried separately in the US.
The case is one of a number in which US soldiers serving in Iraq have been accused of abuses against Iraqis. The commander of the 101st Airborne Division referred the charges to court martial on the basis of a report from military investigators.
At hearings during the investigation, colleagues of the accused described intense combat stress, with troops left demoralised and emotionally drained by frequent insurgent attacks.
Detainees shot
In the second case, four soldiers from the 3rd Brigade of the same division have been referred to court martial on murder charges.
Sgt Raymond Girouard, Spc William Hunsaker, Spc Juston Graber and Pfc Corey Clagett are accused in the shooting of three male Iraqi prisoners near Tikrit, Salahuddin province, in northern Iraq. The detainees died during a US military operation near the Thar Thar Canal near Tikrit in northern Iraq on 9 May 2006.
The cases are two of several in which US soldiers serving in Iraq have been accused of abuses against Iraqis.
No dates have been set for the courts martial.