US sentences Iraq soldier in accidental shooting

BAGHDAD, July 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. military sentenced a soldier to three years jail on Saturday for the accidental shooting death of a fellow soldier serving in Iraq. "Sargeant Miguel A. Vegaquinones was sentenced to three years confinement, reduction in rank to private ... and a dishonorable discharge," the U.S. military said in a statement.

Vegaquinones had pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after a Jan. 11 incident in which he shot another soldier, Sean McCune, in Samarra, north of Baghdad. The military said Vegaquinones "negligently" fired a round at McCune.

The sentence can be appealed, the statement said. (Editing by Tim Pearce)