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| US officers 'lax' on Iraqi deaths | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A US marine general and two officers have been disciplined for a "lack of due diligence" in investigating the killings of 24 Iraqi civilians in 2005. | A US marine general and two officers have been disciplined for a "lack of due diligence" in investigating the killings of 24 Iraqi civilians in 2005. |
| However, the inquiry found no evidence of a cover-up over the deaths in the town of Haditha, the Marine Corps said. | However, the inquiry found no evidence of a cover-up over the deaths in the town of Haditha, the Marine Corps said. |
| "Letters of censure" have been sent to Maj Gen Richard Huck, Col Stephen Davis and Col Robert Sokoloski, it added. | "Letters of censure" have been sent to Maj Gen Richard Huck, Col Stephen Davis and Col Robert Sokoloski, it added. |
| The action comes as proceedings to decide whether a lower-ranking marine should be tried for murder continue. | The action comes as proceedings to decide whether a lower-ranking marine should be tried for murder continue. |
| Staff Sgt Frank Wuterich is one of four marines initially charged. The case against a second is under review and charges against two others have been dropped. | Staff Sgt Frank Wuterich is one of four marines initially charged. The case against a second is under review and charges against two others have been dropped. |
| Attorneys for the marines say the troops were responding to an insurgent attack after a roadside bomb killed one of their squad members. | Attorneys for the marines say the troops were responding to an insurgent attack after a roadside bomb killed one of their squad members. |
| Iraqi witnesses say the marines shot unarmed civilians in retaliation for the death of their comrade. | Iraqi witnesses say the marines shot unarmed civilians in retaliation for the death of their comrade. |
| 'Inactions' | 'Inactions' |
| Despite the conflicting accounts, there was no full US investigation into what happened until January 2006, when video footage emerged of the aftermath, shot by a local human rights activist. | Despite the conflicting accounts, there was no full US investigation into what happened until January 2006, when video footage emerged of the aftermath, shot by a local human rights activist. |
| US inquiries into Iraq deaths | US inquiries into Iraq deaths |
| The US military at first reported that the Iraqis had been killed by the roadside bomb that killed marine L/Cpl Miguel Terrazas, or in a subsequent gunfight with insurgents. | The US military at first reported that the Iraqis had been killed by the roadside bomb that killed marine L/Cpl Miguel Terrazas, or in a subsequent gunfight with insurgents. |
| Lt Gen James Mattis, a senior marine general asked to investigate the response of senior officers to the Haditha incident, concluded they did not intend to break military laws or conceal what happened. | Lt Gen James Mattis, a senior marine general asked to investigate the response of senior officers to the Haditha incident, concluded they did not intend to break military laws or conceal what happened. |
| A statement from the Marine Corps said he "did not find any evidence that these senior officers intended to cover up the incident. | A statement from the Marine Corps said he "did not find any evidence that these senior officers intended to cover up the incident. |
| "He did determine that their actions, or inactions, demonstrated a lack of due diligence on the part of senior commanders and staff." | "He did determine that their actions, or inactions, demonstrated a lack of due diligence on the part of senior commanders and staff." |
| Former commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, Maj Gen Stephen Johnson, was exonerated. | |
| It is unclear what the exact effect of the letters of censure will be, but administrative sanctions can harm promotion prospects. | |
| Twenty-four Iraqi civilians, including three women, seven children and several elderly men, died at Haditha, in Anbar province, on 19 November 2005. | Twenty-four Iraqi civilians, including three women, seven children and several elderly men, died at Haditha, in Anbar province, on 19 November 2005. |
| Iraqi witnesses said the US troops shot dead five unarmed men in a car when they approached the scene of the roadside bomb. | Iraqi witnesses said the US troops shot dead five unarmed men in a car when they approached the scene of the roadside bomb. |
| They were then accused of killing 19 other civilians in three houses nearby over the next few hours. | They were then accused of killing 19 other civilians in three houses nearby over the next few hours. |