Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Iraqi Panel Launches Own Rape-Slay Probe

MAHMOUDIYA, Iraq (AP) - An Iraqi investigative panel has launched
an independent probe into the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl
allegedly by American soldiers currently in U.S. custody, who will
be tried in absentia if necessary, an official said Tuesday.

The investigation started Thursday and was expected to take one week,
said chief prosecutor Adnan Mahmoud of the criminal court in Mahmoudiya,
where the March 12 assault took place.

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"We will do our best to try and get those soldiers to stand trail in an
Iraqi court. If not we will try them in absentia," said Mahmoud, who is
joined on the panel by Mahmoudiya's mayor, police chief and the
hospital's head doctor.

The Iraqi investigation was promised by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki,
who said he wanted the soldiers to be handed over to Iraq for a trial here.
The U.S. is not expected to do that.

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