STOCKHOLM, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- A female Danish military intelligence officer and four male military police sergeants will go on trial in Copenhagen on May 2 for allegedly abusing 11 Iraqi prisoners last year, reports reaching here said on Wednesday quoting judicial sources.

    The trial will be the first in Denmark in which soldiers are accused of violating the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in times of war.

    The abuse allegedly took place when the five were stationed at Camp Eden, near Basra in southern Iraq, where the 500-strong Danish contingent is stationed.

    The alleged events took place in March, April and June 2004.

    The female officer, identified in the Danish media as reserve captain Annemette Hommel, is charged with dereliction of duty for forcing prisoners to kneel during lengthy interrogations and refusing to give them food and water or let them use the bathroom.    

    The four others, whose identities have not been disclosed, have also been charged with the same offences, although committed only in March last year.

    The five officers face up to one year in prison.

    The trial will take place at Copenhagen's district court and is expected to conclude in December.

    While the case will follow the Danish military code, the judge and defence lawyers will be civilians. Only the prosecutor will represent the military. Enditem