WASHINGTON, May 29: The US military is investigating a Marine accused of promoting Christianity in Iraq by giving coins to civilians with a Bible verse written on them in Arabic, US officials said on Wednesday.

“They have initiated an investigation into that and there is some evidence of an individual that was doing that,” said Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman.

The Marine has been accused of distributing the coins to Iraqis as they passed through a checkpoint in Falluja, US officials said.

“Where will you spend eternity?” was written on one side of the coins, according to a report from McClatchy News Service. On the other was a Bible verse written in Arabic referring to Jesus.

If true, the Marine would have violated US military rules that prohibit the promotion of any religion, faith or practice.

“This has our full attention,” Col James Welsh, the US commander in western Iraq, said in a statement. “We deeply value our relationship with the local citizens and share their concerns over this serious incident.”

Last week, President George W. Bush apologised and promised to prosecute a soldier accused of denigrating the holy Quran.

Handing out or exchanging coins is a tradition within the US military. The coins are most often minted with the emblem of a unit or other military affiliation and senior commanders have their own coins.—Reuters