Initial report on Haditha killings complete

The Army general investigating whether military personnel tried to cover up any part of the alleged massacre of up to two dozen Iraqi civilians in Haditha late last year has completed his report. Army Maj.-Gen. Eldon A. Bargewell has sent his report to Lt.-Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the second-ranking commander in Iraq, and US military officials there were expected to announce that Friday, according to a senior defense official. No information about his findings was provided. The Haditha case centers on allegations that a small number of Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment murdered 24 Iraqi civilians - included unarmed women and children - on November 19 after a roadside bomb in the town killed one of their fellow Marines.