US soldier pleads guilty in Iraq abuse trial

11.00pm

Specialist Jeremy Sivits, the first US soldier court-martialled over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad, has pleaded guilty on all four counts, with one reservation.

His defence counsel, Lieutenant Stanley Martin, said Sivits, who faces two counts of maltreating detainees, one of conspiracy to maltreat and one of dereliction of duty, would plead guilty to all charges if the wording on one count was slightly amended.

It related to the taking of a photograph of naked prisoners. Sivits was accused of taking the photograph. His attorney asked that the wording refer to "let a photograph be taken".

Earlier, Sivits had opted to be tried by military judge Colonel James Pohl alone, without a jury, and prosecution counsel said a pre-trial plea bargain agreement had been made.

Sivits faces a lesser penalty at a special court martial where the maximum jail term is one year than three other soldiers arraigned for general court martial earlier in the day.

Sivits has been quoted as saying commanders were unaware of the abuse and legal experts have speculated that, once his trial is over, he may be called to give evidence against his co-accused.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq