First Abu Ghraib court martial

2004-05-09 15:48

Baghdad - A 24-year-old military policeman has been ordered to stand trial this month in the first court-martial scheduled in connection with abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison, the military said on Sunday.

Jeremy C Sivits will stand trial in Baghdad on May 19.

Sivits has been charged with conspiracy to maltreat subordinates and detainees, dereliction of duty for negligently failing to protect detainees from abuse and cruelty and maltreatment of detainees.

Seven soldiers, including Sivits, are facing criminal charges for alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Photographs of the abuse were published throughout the world. Sivits is the first for whom a trial date has been set.

President George W Bush vowed on Saturday that "we will learn all the facts and determine the full extent of these abuses.

Those involved will be identified. They will answer for their actions."

The army trained Sivits as a truck mechanic, not as a prison guard, his father, Daniel Sivits said.

He said his son "was just doing what he was told to do."

- AP