BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq has launched ...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq has launched its acknowledge probe into the alleged rape and kill cruelly of a 14-year-old girl on American soldiers even though they face a possible U court-martial in the case, an official said Tuesday.

The U military, meanwhile, reported the capture of more than 100 known or suspected al-Qaida terrorists and sectarian death squad leaders, and five tribe were killed Tuesday in the violence sweeping the nation

The Iraqi investigation into the rape-slaying started Thursday and was wait fored to take one week, said chief prosecutor Adnan Mahmoud of the criminal court in Mahmoudiya, 20 miles toward the south of Baghdad, where the March 12 assault took place.

Mahmoud is part of the investigation panel along with Mahmoudiya's mayor, police chief and the head of the town's main hospital.

He said the panel interviewed witnesses and inspected the house where Abeer Qassim al-Janabi, 14 was raped, shooter dead and set on fire, allegedly from a group of U.S. soldiers who had observ her for days. Also killed in the house were her 5-year-old sister and parents.

The gruesome kill cruellys have bolstered Iraqi allegations of misconduct on American soldiers, including illegal killings, beatings and other abuse.

U authorities arrested five soldiers and a former private in connection with the case. The active-duty soldiers faced a military hearing earlier this month to determine if they should be court- martialed. A decision is pending.

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