Paras charged with Iraqi murder

A court martial is currently dealing with abuse allegations

Seven British paras have been charged with a joint offence of murder over the death of an Iraqi civilian, the attorney general has said.

They are also charged jointly with violent disorder.

The charges relate to the death of Nadhem Abdullah on 11 May 2003 in Uzayra in southern Iraq, following an incident at the roadside.

The accused include Cpl Scott Evans, Pte William Nerney and Daniel Harding. The others have not yet been named.

The three who have been named were all serving in 3 Para, which is based in Colchester, Essex, at the time of Mr Abdullah's death. Mr Harding has since left the armed forces.

The rest will be named when they have been informed of the charges against them. No date has yet been given for the court martial.

'In context'

Thursday's charges - announced in a statement from Attorney General Lord Goldsmith - come at a difficult time for the armed forces and the government.

BBC Defence Correspondent Paul Adams said the charges would focus attention on the period immediately after the war, and would lead to questions being asked about the transition from fighting to peacekeeping.

Military expert Colonel Mike Dewar said the allegation should be kept in context.

"I think we have to keep them in the context of how few these cases are," he said.

"Sixty-five thousand troops have been in Iraq in the last 15 months or so, and we're talking about a number of cases on two or three hands."

Further investigations

The government faces being forced to hold an independent inquiry into the death of Iraqi civilian Baha Mousa, one of half dozen hotel workers arrested in southern Iraq, following a Court of Appeal ruling.

In another case, Trooper Kevin Lee Williams, of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, is accused of killing Hassan Sayyed in Ad-Dayr, in south-eastern Iraq, on 3 August 2003.

And a court martial into allegations of abuse arising from a set of photos taken at Camp Bread Basket is still going on.

On Thursday, a charge against one soldier of forcing Iraqi captives to undress against was dropped.

This came after a key prosecution witness said he could not be sure that he had correctly identified L/Cpl Darren Larkin as the soldier who had told prisoners to undress.