BREAKING NEWS

US soldier held in slayings of 2 GIs in Iraq

The US military says an American serviceman is in pretrial detention in connection with the fatal shootings of two soldiers and the wounding of another in Iraq.

A military statement released on Tuesday says Spc. Neftaly Platero is being held following the slayings of two soldiers last Thursday.

The military says an investigation is under way. No other details of the incident were immediately available.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan says US forces are "saddened by this tragic event."