The Military hearings of four US soldiers suspected of abusing Iraqi prisoners will start on Monday in the central German city of Mannheim.

The four, Corporal Charles Grainer, Specialist Megan Ambuhl,Specialist Javal Davis, and Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick, are accused of assault, coercion and conspiracy against Iraqi prisoners in the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.

The two-day pre-trial hearings were moved to Mannheim after lawyers for the defense demanded change of the venue from Baghdad due to security reasons there.

"This is a one-time only arrangement. All future proceedings will be held in Baghdad unless a military judge grants a venue change," a US military advisory in Mannheim said.

The four are among the seven reservists of the 372nd Military Police Company who have been charged in the abuse scandal.The scandal shocked the world when photographs of Iraqi prisoners being abused and humiliated in the Abu Ghraib prison were revealed in April.

The hearings in Mannheim are part of the judicial proceedings known as "Article 39(a)" session to determine whether there are grounds for a full trial.

Source: Xinhua