An American soldier who said he left his unit in Iraq in protest at an “oil-driven” war has been sentenced to a year in jail and a bad conduct discharge for desertion.

A US soldier charged with deserting his unit in Iraq walked away from the war partly to avoid orders to abuse Iraqi prisoners, a court-martial was told.

The US 7th Cavalry charged into Iraq today and by 6.30 (Irish time) were said to be halfway to Baghdad.

US military police officers marched the “prisoners” in front of a mock detention centre, shouting at them in English and Arabic, ordering them to their knees to be searched before they get food, water and a place to sleep.