04/01/2007

No charges for soldiers over Iraq riot footage

There will be no charges brought against nine British soldiers who had been accused of beating Iraqi civilians after a riot which was caught on film, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Video footage shown in February last year appeared to show British troops beating and kicking four Iraqi men allegedly snatched from a group of rioters in al-Amarah in southern Iraq in April 2004.

The footage was broadcast on several television news channels in both Britain and the Middle East and stills were featured in the 'News of the World'.

The Army Prosecuting Authority said that there was not enough evidence to secure a conviction on most of the claims and decided that prosecution was not in the public interest on others.

However, the APA said that there was evidence to support charging two soldiers with battery, but the time limit for such a prosecution - six months - had passed. It was also decided that it was not in the public interest for two soldiers allegedly seen kicking the body of a deceased Iraqi civilian to face trial by court martial.

The case has now been referred back to the Army in order to decide on any further disciplinary action.

(KMcA)

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