Three US soldiers have been charged with murdering three Iraqi men who were in military custody.

A non-commissioned officer and two soldiers were charged with violating several articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, communicating a threat, and obstructing justice.

The Multinational Corps-Iraq said the men were members of 3rd Brigade Combat Team and 101st Airborne Division.

The deaths followed a military operation near the Thar Thar Canal in southern Salahuddin province on May 9.

"A non-commissioned officer and two Soldiers each have been charged with violating several articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, communicating a threat, and obstructing justice," an announcement said.

It added that "on the day the alleged murders occurred, the unit commander ordered an inquiry to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the three detainees".

It said that a Criminal Investigation Command investigation began on May 17 and "is ongoing".

Once charged, defendants have the right to an Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a grand jury investigation.

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