Haditha charges dropped against Marine officer

Los Angeles: A military judge on Tuesday dismissed the charges against a US Marine officer accused of failing to investigate the death of two dozen civilians at Haditha, lawyers said.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani was one of eight Marines charged in the November, 2005 incident and the highest ranking officer accused of wrongdoing.

The accused ringleader, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, still faces court martial.