Three US marine officers relieved of command

[cynatnite]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The commander of a US marine battalion, which was involved in an incident in Iraq during which 15 civilians were killed, has been relieved of his command along with two other officers, the Marine Corps said.

The three officers were relieved of their command "due to lack of confidence in their leadership abilities stemming from their performance during a recent deployment to Iraq," the Marines said in a statement.

The three officers were identified as Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment; Captain Lucas McConnell, commander of the 3rd Battalion's Company K; and Captain James Kimber, commander of the battalion's Company I.

The three were relieved of their commands amid a military criminal investigation into allegations that marines from the 3rd Battalion deliberately killed 15 Iraqi civilians in the western Iraqi city of Haditha in November after a marine was killed in a roadside bombing.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060411/pl_afp/usiraqmilitaryhaditha_060411235341

[killbotfactory]

1. wow...

that's unexpected...