BAGHDAD, May 9: The first court martial of a US soldier charged with abusing Iraqi detainees in the Abu Ghraib prison west of Baghdad will start on May 19 and be open to the public, a spokesman for the United States military said on Sunday.

Specialist Jeremy Sivits was charged with maltreatment of detainees, conspiracy to maltreat subordinates and detainees and dereliction of duty for negligently failing to protect detainees from cruelty, abuse and maltreatment, he said.

"Courts martial are open to the public," and it would be held in Baghdad, subject to final approval, Brigadier General Mark Kimmit told a news conference. "It's our desire to make the upcoming courts martial as accessible as possible," Gen Kimmit said at the Conference Centre in the Green Zone - the former Saddam Hussein presidential complex where the US-led administration is housed.

The court martial could be held in the heavily guarded Conference Centre to give media maximum access, Brigadier General Mark Kimmit said. -Reuters