The charges against a US Marine Corps officer for inappropriately investigating the alleged massacre of 24 Iraqi civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha have been dropped, the US military said on Tuesday.

 

All charges against Captain Lucas McConnell for his investigation into the Haditha massacre were cleared, Marines Camp Pendleton base in southern California said in a statement.

 

Commander of the US Marine Corps Forces Lt. Gen. James Mattis determined that "any errors or omissions allegedly committed by McConnell" can be responded with administrative measures.

 

Eight Marines were accused of being involved in the Haditha killings in November 2005, four of whom were initially charged with murder, and the rest including McConnell were charged with failing to investigate the killings in a proper way.

 

Apart from McConnell, two soldiers involved have also been cleared of charges of murder.     

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2007)