Iraqi PM Wants Rape-Slay Investigation

U.S. military secure the area of a car bomb attack, Wednesday, July 5, 2006, in the northern city of Mosul, Iraq. A suicide car bomb struck an Iraqi police patrol on Wednesday in Mosul, killing at least two people and wounding four, police said. (AP Photo/Mohammed Ibrahim) (Mohammed Ibrahim - AP)

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's prime minister called Wednesday for an independent investigation into an alleged rape-slaying by U.S. soldiers and said the immunity of coalition troops from Iraq prosecution should be reviewed.

Across Iraq, meanwhile, nine people were killed in continuing violence.

In his strongest comments to date on alleged abuse by American soldiers, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said their immunity from prosecution in Iraq has encouraged atrocities.

"We believe that the immunity given to members of coalition forces encouraged them to commit such crimes in cold blood (and) that makes it necessary to review it," al-Maliki told reporters during a visit to Kuwait.

He called for either an independent Iraqi investigation a joint investigation with coalition forces into the March 12 rape and murder of Abeer Qassim Hamza. Her mother, father and sister were also killed in the attack at their home in Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad.

Former Army Pfc. Steve D. Green was charged with rape and four counts of murder Monday in federal court in Charlotte, N.C. At least four other U.S. soldiers still in Iraq are under investigation.

"We are going to demand an independent Iraqi investigation or at least a joint investigation between us and the multinational forces," al-Maliki said.

Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said the coalition would discuss the prime minister's demands.

"We are here as guests of the Iraqi government. They are a sovereign nation," Caldwell said. "When the prime minister gets back, the coalition will engage with him and discuss what he wants to discuss."

Abeer's uncle said the family didn't believe Americans were involved until the U.S. military announced an investigation last week. Ahmed Taha said neighbors initially said they thought insurgents had killed Abeer, along with her family.

He said he arrived at the scene about four hours after the rape-slaying was reported to have occurred and found Abeer's body burned and her mother, Fikhriya Taha; her father, Qassim Hamza; and her younger sister, Hadeel Qassim Hamza, shot to death.

FBI documents have estimated the rape victim was about 25, but Ahmed Taha said his niece was 15.