Two American soldiers in Iraq have been charged with murdering an Iraqi prisoner, the US military said on Saturday.
First Lieutenant Michael Behenna and Staff Sergeant Hal Warner were each charged with multiple offences following the death of Ali Mansur Mohammed, the US military said.
"Behenna has been charged with pre-meditated murder, assault, making a false official statement and obstruction of justice," it said.
The charge sheet said Behenna was accused of using a pistol to shoot Mohammed "at or near Forward Operating Base Summerall, Iraq."
Warner was charged with "pre-meditated murder, accessory after the fact, assault, making a false official statement and obstruction of justice," the statement said.
It said Mohammed was "initially believed to have been released by coalition forces on or about May 16."
Both accused are from D Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry based near the oil refinery town of Bayji in central Salaheddin province.
A pretrial investigation for Warner has been set for August 15 near Tikrit and a date for a similar pretrial inquiry for Behenna has not yet been decided on, the US military said.
