Iraqi court intercedes in U.S. death case

WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- An Iraqi court has overturned the death sentence of a naturalized U.S. citizen being held by the U.S. military in his native country.

Lawyers for Mohammed Munaf notified the U.S. Supreme Court of the ruling Friday, National Public Radio reported. Munaf's lawyers say he has a right to have the charges against him heard in the U.S. courts, while the Justice Department argues that the Iraqi courts have jurisdiction.

It was not clear Friday what effect the Iraqi ruling will have on the Supreme Court appeal.

Munaf, who moved to Romania after becoming a U.S. citizen in 2000, was working as a translator for three Romanian journalists in Iraq when they were all kidnapped in 2005. He was arrested after their release 55 days later and charged with participating in the kidnapping.

The Iraqi Court of Cassation overturned the conviction and death sentence because the transcript of Munaf's confession and witness statements had disappeared.

Munaf has been held at Camp Cropper near the Baghdad Airport. The U.S. Supreme Court had scheduled oral arguments on his case for March 25.