Officers Not a Target of Iraq Death Probe

This image taken from a videotape made by a Haditha, Iraq journalism student and obtained by Time Magazine via the Hammurabi Human Rights Group, shows a scene in what appears to be a morgue following an alleged fatal raid by United States forces which took place on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005, in Haditha, Iraq. The U.S. military is bracing for a major scandal over the alleged killing of Iraqi civilians in Haditha - charges so serious that they could threaten President Bush's effort to rally support for an increasingly unpopular war. (AP Photo/Hammurabi Human Rights Group, File) (AP)

The Pentagon has named two others who were relieved of command: Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, the commander of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and Capt. Lucas McConnell, who commanded Kilo Company, which was implicated in the killings.

Hackett does not represent either man but said that neither was present for the shootings and that he believes neither is a target of the investigations.

Like all Marines, Chessani and McConnell were taught that commanders accept responsibility for the failure of their subordinates, Hackett said.

"That's different than being criminally negligible or criminally responsible for the criminal actions of your subordinates," he said.

McConnell refused to speak with an AP reporter who visited his home near Camp Pendleton on Monday night. Chessani did not return a phone call seeking comment.

In his first statement on the case, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Tuesday expressed remorse over the deaths of the civilians.

"It is not justifiable that a family is killed because someone is fighting terrorists; we have to be more specific and more careful," al-Maliki told the British Broadcasting Corp. through an interpreter.

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Associated Press writers Seth Hettena in San Diego and Erica Werner in Washington contributed to this report.