Frank Wuterich

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq plans legal action on behalf of families of victims killed by U.S. troops in a 2005 massacre after the last soldier involved was spared jail time by a guilty plea with military authorities, a government spokesman said Thursday.

The US State Department said Wednesday that the killings of 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005 were "tragic" for both countries, but the US military had drawn valuable lessons from them.

The Baghdad government vowed Wednesday to take legal action after an American marine was spared jail by a US military court over the massacre of 24 unarmed civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha in 2005.

A US Marine accused over the killing of 24 Iraqis in 2005 was demoted but will serve no time behind bars, a judge ruled, as locals in Iraq condemned the light sentence.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Reuters) - A U.S. Marine accused of leading a 2005 massacre of 24 civilians in the Iraqi city of Haditha was spared jail time when he was sentenced on Tuesday for his role in killings that brought international condemnation on U.S. troops.

A US Marine who led a squad of troops accused of killing 24 Iraqis, including women and children, voiced sorrow Tuesday, but insisted he was not a "cold-blooded baby killer."

A US soldier accused over the deaths of 24 Iraqis faced a sentence Tuesday of three months at the most after charges of manslaughter were dropped as part of a plea deal.

A US soldier court-martialed over the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians admitted dereliction of duty, but manslaughter charges were dropped and he faces three months' imprisonment at most.

A US Marine accused in the 2005 killings of 24 Iraqi civilians pleaded guilty Monday to negligence, as manslaughter charges were dropped in a deal under which he faces three months' imprisonment at most.

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - The U.S. Marine sergeant accused of leading a massacre of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha pleaded guilty on Monday to dereliction of duty, ending the final prosecution stemming from a 2005 incident that brought international condemnation of U.S. troops.

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - The U.S. Marine sergeant accused of leading a 2005 massacre of civilians in Haditha, Iraq, pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of dereliction of duty in a plea deal that eliminates court-martial proceedings on manslaughter and other charges.

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - The U.S. Marine sergeant accused of leading a 2005 massacre of civilians in Haditha, Iraq, pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of dereliction of duty, halting court-martial proceedings on manslaughter and other charges.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The U.S. Marine sergeant accused of leading a massacre of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha pleaded guilty on Monday to dereliction of duty, ending the final prosecution stemming from a 2005 incident that brought international condemnation of U.S. troops.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif (Reuters) - The U.S. Marine sergeant accused of leading a 2005 massacre of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha returned to a military court at Camp Pendleton near San Diego on Tuesday to face sentencing for his guilty plea to one count of dereliction of duty.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif (Reuters) - The U.S. Marine sergeant accused of leading a 2005 massacre of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq, expressed sorrow for the killings as he returned to military court on Tuesday to face sentencing for his role in the deaths.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif (Reuters) - A U.S. Marine sergeant accused of leading a 2005 massacre of 24 civilians in Iraq was spared jail time when he was sentenced on Tuesday for his role in the killings in the city of Haditha that brought international condemnation of U.S. troops.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif (Reuters) - A Marine sergeant accused of leading a 2005 massacre of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq, was spared jail time on Tuesday for his role in a case that brought international condemnation of U.S. troops.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif (Reuters) - A U.S. Marine sergeant accused of leading a 2005 massacre of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq, expressed sorrow for the killings as he returned to military court on Tuesday to face sentencing for his role in the deaths.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif (Reuters) - A U.S. Marine accused of leading a 2005 massacre of 24 civilians in the Iraqi city of Haditha was spared jail time when he was sentenced on Tuesday for his role in killings that brought international condemnation on U.S. troops.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif (Reuters) - A U.S. Marine accused of leading a 2005 massacre of 24 civilians in the Iraqi city of Haditha was spared jail time when he was sentenced on Tuesday for his role in killings that brought international condemnation on U.S. troops.