Eight U.S. marines have been charged in connection with the killing of 24 Iraqis in the town of Haditha last year. Marine Colonel Stewart Navarre announced the charges Thursday at Camp Pendleton in California.

Col. Stewart Navarre: “Based on the findings of the investigations, various charges have been preferred against four marines, relating to the deaths of the Iraqi civilians on 19 November 2005. Also, charges have been preferred against four marines for failure to properly report and/or investigate the deaths of the Iraqi civilians. These charges include murder, dereliction of duty, false official statement and obstruction of justice.”

The victims were asleep the night of November 20, 2005, when marines burst into their homes and shot them dead. The military initially claimed 15 civilians died in a roadside blast caused by insurgents. In announcing the charges Thursday, the Marines acknowledged that claim was false.