Senate plans hearings on Haditha incident

Senate plans hearings on Haditha incident
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer
Wed Jun 7, 7:46 AM ET

WASHINGTON - The Senate will hold hearings soon into an alleged Marine massacre of Iraqi civilians, a committee chairman said Tuesday as Republicans and Democrats urged the military to finish its investigations into the accusations quickly.

"We've got our duty and we'll do it. We'll go wherever the facts lead," Sen. John Warner, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, said of the allegations that U.S. Marines killed up to 24 Iraqi civilians last November in the town of Haditha without cause and then engaged in a cover-up.

The Virginia Republican told reporters he wanted to hold the first of what he expected to be a series of hearings on the allegations as soon as Army Maj. Gen. Eldon A. Bargewell finishes his investigation into whether military personnel lied about what occurred at Haditha. Warner said Bargewell likely would be the first witness called.

Congressional aides say Bargewell's report could be completed within the week but that the military's separate criminal investigation is not expected to be finished anytime soon.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060607/ap_on_go_co/congress_haditha