US military charges two soldiers with murder of 3 Iraqis

BAGHDAD -- The US military said yesterday that it had charged two soldiers attached to the Army's First Cavalry Division with premeditated murder in the deaths of three Iraqis.

The military named the two soldiers, Sergeant Michael P. Williams and Specialist Brent W. May, but did not provide further details about the deaths. Williams also was charged with obstruction of justice and making a false official statement, the military said.

''The specific events relating to these charges cannot be discussed at this time because of the Army Criminal Investigation Division's ongoing investigation," the military said in a statement.

A First Cavalry spokesman said investigative hearings had not yet been held in connection with the case. Based on the findings of such proceedings, called Article 32 hearings, commanders decide whether to send cases to a court-martial.

The two accused soldiers, who serve with the First Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment based in Fort Riley, Kan., are the first US soldiers charged with the premeditated murder of an Iraqi since the US-led invasion 18 months ago.

A British soldier was charged this month with killing a civilian in southeastern Iraq last year.

The two soldiers charged yesterday were assigned to Task Force Baghdad, which is responsible for maintaining security in the capital.