Assault charges against Marine dropped

CAMP PENDELTON, Calif., May 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marines, in a statement from Camp Pendelton, Calif., said charges against a lieutenant accused of assault against Iraqi civilians had been dropped.

Lt. Gen. James Mattis, the commanding general of the U.S. Marines' Central Command, said Tuesday charges against 2nd Lt. Nathan P. Phan were withdrawn last week and will be discharged at a lesser non-judicial administrative proceeding. No date was specified.

Charges against Phan were lodged March 14 and referred to general court-martial. He was accused of menacing and choking two Iraqi detainees in the Iraqi village of Hamdania last year.