NEW CHARGES
Meanwhile, military prosecutors are preparing murder, kidnapping and conspiracy charges against seven Marines and a Navy corpsman in connection with the shooting death of an Iraqi civilian in April, a defense lawyer said on Thursday.
The eight men, who are in the 3rd Battalion of the 5th Marine Regiment, are being confined at Camp Pendleton, the Marines have said.
The plans to file charges were first reported by The Associated Press.
Jeremiah Sullivan, a lawyer for one of the men, said on Thursday evening that military prosecutors had prepared charges that could be made public shortly. The names of the eight men under investigation have not been made public.
Marine officials and members of Congress briefed on the case have said there is evidence that Marines involved in the killing, which occurred near Hamandiyah, west of Baghdad, placed a shovel and bomb components near the Iraqi's body to make it appear he had been digging a hole for a roadside explosive.
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