US Frees 1,000 from Abu Ghraib
The U.S. military said on Saturday it had freed 1,000 detainees from Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison at the Baghdad government’s request, in the largest release to date.
It was not clear if the decision was linked to a demand by Arab Sunnis opposed to a draft constitution that authorities release Sunni prisoners so they can participate in a referendum on the text and elections later this year.
“I know this is a big one, but I can’t say if it is related to anything that is going on,” said U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Steven Boylan.
A statement from President Jalal Talabani’s office said prisoners from the town of Madaen, just south of Baghdad, had also been released. Sunni negotiators had also demanded freedom for Sunni prisoners from Madaen.
Whether or not the releases were part of negotiations on the charter, they are likely to ease concerns over the estimated 10,000 Iraqi prisoners held in U.S. detention centers in the country.
Source: Reuters.
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