First Iraq Medal of Honor awarded

Smith's Medal of Honor is only the third awarded since Vietnam

US President George Bush has presented the first Congressional Medal of Honor of the Iraq war to a soldier killed shortly before the fall of Baghdad.

Sgt Paul Ray Smith's son David, 11, accepted the award - the US military's highest citation for bravery.

Smith is credited with saving dozens of his men from enemy fire by manning a machine gun in an exposed position until he was shot dead.

Smith's Medal of Honor is only the third awarded since the Vietnam war.

"With complete disregard for his own life, and under constant enemy fire, Sgt Smith rallied his men and led a counter-attack" when his company was attacked by Iraqi Republican Guards on 4 April 2003, Mr Bush said.

"Sgt Smith continued to fire until he took a fatal round to the head," the president told assembled military officers including Gen Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Court martial

Smith's wife Birgit and daughter Jessica also attended the ceremony at the White House, as did Donald Rumsfeld, the secretary of defence.

He will unveil a memorial to Smith on Tuesday.

Separately, a US soldier accused of murder is due to appear before a court martial on Tuesday.

Sgt Hasan Akbar is charged with killing two officers and wounding 14 in a grenade attack in March 2003.

He could face the death penalty if convicted.