A military judge last night dismissed two charges against a US army intelligence officer charged with abuses at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.
Lt Col Steven Jordan headed the interrogation centre at the prison and is the highest-ranking person charged in the abuse scandal that came to light after pictures showed US troops sexually humiliating detainees.
The dismissal of charges that Jordan made false statements to investigators and obstructed justice came at a hearing before the start of his court martial at Fort Meade, Maryland, outside Washington, the army said.
Lt Col Jordan still faces charges of cruelty and maltreatment of detainees, disobeying a superior officer and failure to obey orders, the statement said.