U.S. forces propose release of 1,500 detainees

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The U.S. army in Iraq is currently consulting the Iraqi government about the release of 1,500 detainees, an army adviser said on Tuesday. “We handed over a list of 1,500 detainees to the Iraqi government,” Kareem al-Sayiab told IraqiNews.com news agency. “The Iraqi government will decide who should be released, and who should be transferred to Iraqi detention centers in order to be sent to the Iraqi court,” he said. “This measure comes in accordance with the Iraqi-U.S. security pact,” he added. Al-Sayiab did not mention when the list was handed over to the Iraqi side, but noted “In accordance with the pact, and in coordination with Iraq’s government, 50 detainees will be released every day.” “Those 1,500 detainees (50 a day throughout 30 days) represent the first batch,” he said. He stressed that U.S. forces in Iraq had released more than 18,500 detainees in 2008, but still detain around 15,000 others. MH (P) / SS 1