MNF says will release detained provincial council members

WASSIT / IraqiNews.com: Coalition forces on Saturday said that they will release two Wassit provincial council members, who have been detained for two years, according to a council member. “The Multi-National Force (MNF) has officially informed the council that it will release Qasim al-Araji and Fadhil Abi al-Tayyeb, who were detained by the U.S. forces two years ago,” Ikhlas al-Shamri told IraqiNews.com. “Preparations are currently underway in the council to hold an official reception for the two members. An official delegation has been formed to receive them from the MNF Delta Base (7 km west of Kut),” Shamri added. A Shiite province, Wassit, 180 km south of Baghdad, is in the east of the country. Its name comes from the Arabic word meaning “middle,” as it lies along the Tigris about midway between Baghdad and Basra. Its major cities include the capital, al-Kut, and al-Hayy. Prior to 1976 it was known as Kut Province. SS (P) 2