A US soldier alleged to have been one of the ringleaders in the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib jail has appeared before a military tribunal in Germany.
Specialist Charles Graner is the first of four soldiers to face a preliminary hearing.
He is charged with cruelty and maltreatment of prisoners as well as assault and indecent acts.
The prisoner abuse scandal in Abu Ghraib erupted in April after images emerged of prison guards mistreating and sexually humiliating detainees.
Seven US soldiers have so far been charged and one soldier, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to a year in prison.
