One of three British soldiers on trial accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners had the charge against him dropped today.

The British Army officer who gave an “unlawful” order to his soldiers to come down hard on Iraqis caught looting was not charged with any offence, a court martial heard today.

A British army major who unlawfully ordered his soldiers to punish Iraqi civilians by “working them hard” is expected to give evidence today at the “Operation Ali Baba” court martial in Germany.