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Two more trials set for Abu Ghraib abuse case

BAGHDAD - A military judge ordered two U.S. Army reservists to stand trial in Baghdad for allegedly abusing Iraqi inmates at Abu Ghraib prison.

Spc. Charles Graner Jr., 36, of Uniontown, Pa., will face a court-martial on Jan. 7, while Sgt. Javal Davis, 26, of Maryland is tentatively set to be tried Feb. 1.

The two men are among eight charged in the abuse scandal that erupted in April after publication of photos worldwide showing U.S. soldiers abusing and humiliating Iraqi detainees.

Graner's civilian defense attorney maintains that Graner was told by high-ranking soldiers to toughen up on interrogations and "loosen up restraints."

The judge, Col. James Pohl, set the trial dates during a hearing in which he turned down a defense motion to grant immunity to several people to testify without fear of incrimination. The list included Col. Thomas Pappas, commander of the Military Intelligence Brigade assigned to Abu Ghraib when the offenses allegedly occurred.

A senior Saudi official rejected on Friday a suggestion that his government was lax in pursuing Saudi nationals who provide money to Iraqi insurgents or terrorist groups.

"Saudi Arabia is determined to go after the terrorists, those who support them and those who condone their actions," said Adel al-Jubeir, foreign policy adviser to Crown Prince Abdullah. "We have taken dramatic action ensuring no Saudi funding goes to evildoers, and we will continue to do so."

A U.S. defense official said this week that Iraqi rebels had access to almost unlimited funding, with a substantial amount coming from Saudis who are sympathetic to their cause. Several other U.S. officials, all speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, agreed Friday that Saudi dollars were reaching the insurgency in Iraq.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in comments Friday, said the insurgents have received money continuously, and he named Iran and Syria among the sources. He did not mention Saudi Arabia.