Washington: Stung by the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal, the United States Army has announced first court martial proceedings against a 24-year-old American soldier charged with abusing detainees in the Abu Ghraib prison.

Military policeman Jeremy Sivits of the 372nd Military Police Company will stand trial on May 19, Brigadier Mark Kimmitt said yesterday (may 09, 2004).

Sivits has been charged with conspiracy to maltreat detainees; dereliction of duty for negligently failing to protect detainees from abuse, cruelty and maltreatment and maltreatment of detainees, Kimmit said.

Seven soldiers including Sivits are facing criminal charges for alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Photographs of the abuse were published throughout the world. Sivits is the first for whom a trial date has been set.

Kimmitt said Sivit's court martial would be held in Baghdad and be open to media coverage.

If found guilty, Sivits could be jailed, demoted or sacked from the Army, legal experts said.

President George W Bush, in his weekly radio address said, "The abuse of prisoners does not reflect our values.

"The incidents are a stain on our country's honour and reputation," he had said.