FORT LEWIS, Wash., Feb 7 (Reuters) - A military judge declared on Wednesday a mistrial in the court-martial of a U.S. Army officer, who publicly refused to fight in Iraq and criticized the war.

First Lt. Ehren Watada faces up to four years in prison and a dishonorable discharge if convicted on a charge of missing movements for not deploying to Iraq and two charges of conduct unbecoming an officer for his criticism of the war.

Lt. Col. John Head, the military judge, declared a mistrial after throwing out a "stipulation of fact" -- an agreement over the facts of the trial -- that forced the government to ask the judge for a mistrial instead of reargue its case.

The judge also set a new trial date for the week of March 19, but agreed that the timing could be subject to change.

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