Mistrial declared in US war objector court-martial

FORT LEWIS, Wash, Feb 7 (Reuters) A military judge declared today a mistrial in the court-martial of a US Army officer, who publicly refused to fight in Iraq and criticised the war.

First Lt. Ehren Watada faces up to four years in prison and a dishonorable discharge if convicted on a charge of missing movements for not deploying to Iraq and two charges of conduct unbecoming an officer for his criticism of the war.

Lt Col John Head, the military judge, declared a mistrial after throwing out a ''stipulation of fact'' -- an agreement over the facts of the trial -- that forced the government to ask the judge for a mistrial instead of reargue its case.

The judge also set a new trial date for the week of March 19, but agreed that the timing could be subject to change.

REUTERS SRS BST0355