U.S. rapist’s trial in April- minister

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi minister of human rights on Wednesday said that a trial will be held in April to rule on the issue of a U.S. soldier who has allegedly raped an Iraqi girl and set her family on fire in southern Baghdad. “The U.S. court has set April for the trial of a U.S. serviceman who kidnapped the 14-year-old Abeer and set her family on fire in Baghdad’s southern area of al-Mahmoudiya last year,” Minister Wijdan Salim told IraqiNews.com news agency. The U.S. government has paid compensation for Abeer’s family, the minister noted, adding that she will attend the trial, due to be held in the United States. SS (P)/SR 1