The charges against a US Marine Corps officer for
inappropriately investigating the alleged massacre of 24 Iraqi
civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha have been dropped, the US
military said on Tuesday.
All charges against Captain Lucas McConnell for his
investigation into the Haditha massacre were cleared, Marines Camp
Pendleton base in southern California said in a statement.
Commander of the US Marine Corps Forces Lt. Gen. James Mattis
determined that "any errors or omissions allegedly committed by
McConnell" can be responded with administrative measures.
Eight Marines were accused of being involved in the Haditha
killings in November 2005, four of whom were initially charged with
murder, and the rest including McConnell were charged with failing
to investigate the killings in a proper way.
Apart from McConnell, two soldiers involved have also been
cleared of charges of
murder.?????
(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2007)
