Sepcial Report: Tension accelerates in Iraq

Special report: US soldiers accused of killing Iraqi civilians

    BAGHDAD, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. military court convened in Baghdad on Sunday to decide whether four U.S. soldiers will face a court-martial over an alleged rape and murder of an Iraqi girl.

    The hearing, at which officers will decide whether there is enough evidence to bring the soldiers to court-martial, will hear allegations that four soldiers conspired with a fifth to carry out the rape and killing.

    The four soldiers, Sergeant Paul Cortez, Specialist James Barker, Private Jesse Spielman and Private Bryan Howard, could face the death penalty if court-martialed and found guilty of taking part in the attack on March 12 in the town of Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad.

    The fifth suspect, former private Steven Green, 21, was discharged from the army because of a "personality disorder" and will be tried separately in the United States in a civilian federal court.

    Prosecutors of Green's trial said that Green and the others entered the home of the Iraqi teenager, where he and others raped the girl before Green shot at her, her parents and six-year-old sister and set their house on fire to cover the crime.

    Green's four former comrades will be accused of helping him plan and carry out the attack, and two could reportedly face rape charges.

    The hearing is expected to last up to four days. Enditem