US pushes ahead with first prisoner abuse trial

The US military will next week begin the first in a series of courts-martial in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse allegations, trials that could bring new revelations on whether the mistreatment of Iraqis was an aberration or stemmed from pressure from commanders.

Specialist Jeremy Sivits of Hyndman, Pennsylvania, a member of the 372nd Military Police Company, will face a military court in Baghdad on May 19 – less than a month after photos of prisoners being abused and humiliated were first broadcast on April 28.