BAGHDAD — Two Hawai'i-based soldiers have been charged with the premeditated murder of an Iraqi, and a lieutenant colonel has been relieved of command in connection with the case, the U.S. military announced today.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Trey A. Corrales of San Antonio and Spc. Christopher P. Shore of Widner, Ga., were charged with one count of murder in the death, which allegedly occurred June 23 near the northern city of Kirkuk, the military said in a statement.

The soldiers are assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, which is part of the 25th Infantry Division based at Schofield Barracks. The unit is attached to Multinational Division-North.

The battalion commander, Lt. Col. Michael Browder, was relieved of his command in connection with the investigation although he is not a suspect and has not been charged, the military said.

No further details were released, but the statement noted that the charges are allegations and neither of the two soldiers has been convicted.

Also today, the U.S. military announced that four U.S. soldiers and their Iraqi interpreter were killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their patrol in east Baghdad. The blast occurred during operations to disrupt the flow of explosives into the capital, the military said.

Four other Americans were wounded in the east Baghdad blast, the command said, and two insurgents responsible for the attack were identified and killed.

Yesterday, the U.S. military said three American soldiers were killed the day before in separate bombings in the capital.