The U.S. Marine
sergeant accused of leading a massacre of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha
pleaded guilty on Monday to dereliction of duty, ending the final
prosecution stemming from a 2005 incident that brought international
condemnation of U.S. troops.
Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich,
31, entered his plea at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base north of San
Diego as part of a deal with military prosecutors in which more serious
charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault were
dismissed.