US marines open probe into abuse of Iraqi detainees

BAGHDAD - A US marine commander opened a probe into the possible abuse of Iraqi detainees by his soldiers, the military said in a statement Saturday.
Colonel Augustus Collins, the commander of the 155th Brigade Combat Team, south of Baghad "initiated a preliminary investigation into possible mistreatment of civilian detainees by six members of his command," the statement said.
The enquiry was opened after two Iraqi civilians received "minor injuries" being transported to a detention centre on February 27, the statement said.
No further information was immediately available about the probe of the troops who fall under the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
The US military's reputation in Iraq was stained last April by revelations of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison west of Baghdad.
So far, six US prison guards have been sentenced in the Abu Ghraib scandal.

03/12/2005 19:54 GMT