LONDON, Sept. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- A British soldier accused of killing an Iraqi civilian has been released on bail after appeared in London's Bow Street Magistrates' court on Tuesday.

    Kevin Williams, 21, a trooper from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment,was told to surrender his passport, remain at his barracks in Yorkshire, northern England, and report daily to Royal military police. He was not permitted to leave except by permission of an officer.

    Williams, the first British soldier to face a murder indictmentin connection with British troops' presence in Iraq, was expected to appear before London's Central Criminal Court on Sept. 28.

    Williams was arrested on Tuesday morning by the Metropolitan Police on charge of unlawful killing by shooting of Hassan Said during the course of an arrest in last August in south-eastern Iraq.

    Williams' case was referred to the police by the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, who said the trooper's case could not be tried by court martial after his charges were dismissed by the soldier's commanding officer.

    The British government has already launched 131 investigations into deaths and injuries of Iraqis allegedly caused by British troops in Iraq. Enditem