Iraqi PM condemns "terrible crime" in Haditha

BAGHDAD, June 1 (Reuters) Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki today condemned as a ''terrible crime'' a suspected massacre of civilians by US Marines last year.

''The crime and misery of Haditha ... is a terrible crime where women and children were eliminated,'' Maliki told a news conference after a cabinet meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih separately told Reuters the guilty should be brought to justice and a government security committee would work with US-led forces to make sure such incidents did not happen again.

''We will engage with multinational forces command seriously about means and modalities to prevent the re-occurrences of such incidents,'' Salih said.

''We want to know exactly what happened and those responsible should brought to justice and punished according to the law.'' US defence officials have said charges including murder may be brought against Marines following an investigation into the deaths of 24 civilians in Haditha in November.

Many Iraqis believe unjustified killings by US troops are common, though few have been confirmed by investigations.

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