US soldiers face court martial (Afghanistan prisoner abuse)

[IndianaGreen]

Last Updated: Thursday, 17 November 2005, 06:28 GMT

US soldiers face court martial

Two US soldiers charged with assaulting two Afghan detainees at a US base in southern Afghanistan will face court martial, the US military has said.

The soldiers are accused of assaulting the detainees and making false statements, it said.

The US military said the detainees who were allegedly assaulted were being temporarily held at a forward operating base in Uruzgan province.

Rights groups have accused US forces of a number of abuses in Afghanistan.

A press release issued by the combined forces command in Afghanistan said both soldiers face "multiple charges and specifications".

"They include conspiracy to maltreat, dereliction of duty, maltreatment of detainees and assault consummated by battery," the release said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4444592.stm