11 US soldiers charged in assault

Eleven American soldiers have been charged with violation of military law in connection with alleged assaults on suspected insurgents captured in Baghdad.

The US command announced the news Saturday.

A US statement said the charges, which were filed Wednesday, followed a complaint by a soldier assigned to Task Force Baghdad that "other soldiers had allegedly assaulted some suspected terrorists."

Names of the soldiers and their unit were not released, and the statement gave no further details of the alleged assaults.

According to the US statement, the Army's Criminal Investigation Division has begun an investigation into the allegations.

US commanders have been especially sensitive to alleged mistreatment of detainees since the abuse of inmates at Abu Ghraib prison triggered a major scandal involving America's handling of prisoners both in Iraq and in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Source: CRI/agencies