BAGHDAD, Dec 10: A US official who shot dead an unarmed and wounded Iraqi civilian to put him out of his misery was found guilty of murder on Friday, as Iraq? political parties won more time to register candidates for next month? elections.

At a court martial, Staff Sergeant Johnny Horne was found guilty of the unpremeditated murder of a severely wounded Iraqi civilian in Baghdad? Sadr City district in August. .

The murder of Kassim Hassan took place after US soldiers spotted a garbage truck apparently dropping home made bombs in Sadr City, the capital? most populous neighbourhood, the court heard.

The soldiers started shooting at the truck, which caught fire, and a severely wounded Kassim Hassan pulled himself out of the vehicle and fell to the ground. Hen I found him, I came to the conclusion that he needed to be put out f his misery,? Sergeant Horne said. ? fired a shot into his head and his attempts to breathe ceased.?

Sergeant Horne was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder with two other soldiers, Staff Sergeant Cardenas Alban and Second Lieutenant Erick Anderson, who have yet to stand trial.

SOLDIER KILLED: The US marines announced that one of their men was killed in action on Thursday during an operation in Al Anbar province, where the hotspots of Fallujah and Ramadi are located.

Statistics released on Thursday by the Pentagon showed the number of US military personnel killed in action was 1,003. It was not clear if the latest reported death was included in that figure.

Of the total, 891 were killed since US President George Bush announced in May last year the end of major combat operations after the March invasion to oust President Saddam Hussein.

DEBATE: In a US base in Kuwait, the US army was armouring all vehicles carrying troops into Iraq, a top US commander said, a day after a US soldier in Kuwait complained to Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that his unit was going into action without properly armoured vehicles.

The exchange has revived debate in the United States over whether the administration was adequately prepared when it went to war against Iraq in March 2003.

DATE EXTENDED: Iraq? electoral commission meanwhile extended till Dec 15 the deadline for parties to present their list of election candidates. The original deadline was by the end of Friday but several political movements asked for more time.

Three provinces had previously been granted an extension till Dec 15 because of violence. Iraqis are to elect a 275-member national assembly on Jan 30, the country? first free elections in half a century. The assembly will write a constitution, which, if adopted in a referendum, will form the basis for another poll to be held by Dec 15 next year. -AFP