during interrogation face hearing Fort Carson, Colorado, Dec 2, SPA -- Three of the four U.S.soldiers accused of smothering an Iraqi general during aninterrogation last fall are facing the possibility ofcourt-martial. That decision will be made during an Article 32 hearing _which is similar to a preliminary hearing in civilian court_ set to begin Thursday. The soldiers could get life in prison without parole ifconvicted in the Nov. 26 death of Maj. Gen. Abed HamedMowhoush, 57, at Qaim, Iraq. The U.S. Army said Mowhoushdied of asphyxiation from chest compression and from beingsmothered. Mowhoush was killed with an electrical cord, according tocharging documents in the case, and a Pentagon report givento Congress in June reportedly says a soldier sat onMowhoush as he was restrained inside a sleeping bag. Chief Warrant Officers Jefferson Williams, Sgt. 1st ClassWilliam Sommer, Spc. Jerry Loper and Lewis Welshofer Jr.are charged with murder and dereliction of duty. Welshofer's hearing will be held later, Fort Carsonofficials said. Williams, Sommer and Welshofer are with militaryintelligence and Fort Carson officials said parts ofThursday's hearing may be closed to the public. All foursoldiers were assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regimentbased at Fort Carson at the time of Mowhoush's death. The handling of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops has becomea worldwide scandal, fed by images from the Abu Ghraibprison. At least 19 prisoner deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan havebeen investigated as homicides by the military; eight weredetermined to be justified killings of an escaping ordangerously violent prisoner. --SPA1314 Local Time 1014 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/221411