Seven marines and one sailor face Iraqi murder charge

The US Marine Corps today planned to charge seven Marines and one sailor with murder in connection with the April death of an Iraqi civilian, a defence official said.

At Camp Pendleton, California, where the eight accused service members have been held in a military prison since late May, officials announced that a news conference would be held later today concerning the alleged killing of the Iraqi in the village of Hamdania. The announcement did not mention murder or other charges.