Soldiers face Iraq abuse hearing

The hearing is expected to last three days

Three British soldiers face a court martial on Tuesday over claims they abused Iraqi civilian prisoners.

Cpl Daniel Kenyon and L/Cpls Darren Larkin and Mark Cooley, of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, are charged with assault and indecent assault.

The charges relate to alleged incidents in Basra in May 2003, at a food storage warehouse where civilians were held.

Evidence relating to the abuse claims will be heard at a British Army base in Osnabruck, Germany.

The official start of the hearing was due to be on Monday, but a fourth day of legal argument took place instead.

Reporting banned

The BBC's Ray Furlong, in Germany, said the soldiers were all low-ranking, and there has been no suggestion that their superior officers knew about the alleged abuse.

He said Cpl Kenyon, 33, L/Cpl Larkin, 30, of Oldham, Greater Manchester, and L/Cpl Cooley, 25, of Newcastle, are expected to plead not guilty to the charges - meaning the court martial could take several weeks to reach a conclusion.

Another soldier from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Fusilier Gary Bartlam, appeared before a court martial at the British base in the German city of Bergen on Monday.

He was charged in connection with ill treatment of Iraqi civilians.

The judge advocate hearing Pte Bartlam's case banned reporting details of it, even though Attorney General Lord Goldsmith announced last year the soldiers would face a public court martial.

The MoD said another 10 cases were still being considered by the army prosecuting authority or its civilian equivalent, the Crown Prosecution Service.