A sergeant in the US army reserve pleaded guilty to five charges of abusing Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison when a court martial opened at a US base in Baghdad today.
Ivan Frederick, 38, admitted to allegations of conspiracy, dereliction of duty, maltreatment of detainees, assault, and committing an indecent act.
He is expected to be sentenced tomorrow.
Frederick, a military policeman and a prison officer in civilian life, is the highest-ranking soldier charged in connection with the Abu Ghraib prisoner scandal, which broke in April with the worldwide publication of photos and videos showing American soldiers abusing and humiliating naked Iraqi detainees.