Kabul - Two US soldiers have been formally charged with mistreating a prisoner and failing to report the abuse of a prisoner, according to US armed forces.

According to a release dated Monday but only released Tuesday, Captain Roger T Hill and 1st Sergeant Tommy L Scott were charged in relation to an unspecified event in Afghanistan earlier this year.

Eighteen witnesses testified in proceedings against the two, which are ongoing at the US Forward Operating Base Salerno, which lies north of Khowst, near the Pakistani border. (dpa)