Preliminary Report On Haditha Completed

The preliminary report on whether or not proper reporting procedures were followed has been completed by Army Major General Eldon A. Bargewell. The report has been sent to Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the second-ranking commander in Iraq.

Chiarelli now has a number of options and no time limit for taking action, according to Lt. Col. Michelle Martin-Hing, Multi-National Corps-Iraq spokeswoman, who described the report as "voluminous."

She said he can approve the findings; substitute or add his own findings; send the report back for more information; and make recommendations for action by higher-ranking military authorities.

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 Nov. 19 after a roadside bomb in the town killed one of their fellow Marines.

Bargewell has just one piece of the investigation — whether the Marines followed proper procedures in reporting about the incident to commanders, or whether anyone engaged in a cover-up. His investigation also may consider whether any criminal charges should be brought in connection with deliberate attempts to lie about the incident.

The NCIS investigation is continuing into the incident itself. Chiarelli will make no public statements on the report that could interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation.