- Title: IRAQ: RELATIVES OF IRAQIS HELD BY U.S. FORCES WAIT FOR THEIR RELEASE.
- Date: 8th January 2004
- Summary: (U2) ABU GHARIB PRISON, BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JANUARY 8, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. LV/GV/CU: EXTERIOR OF ABU GHARIB PRISON; OBSERVATION TOWER OF THE PRISON (3 SHOTS) 0.17 2. GV/MV: PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE THE PRISON (2 SHOTS) 0.39 3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) HUSSEIN ALI, FROM THE CITY OF SAMARRA, BROTHER OF A DETAINEE NAMED HASSAN, SAYING: "We were not informed by anybody about the release, we heard on the radio and television that they (U.S. forces) will release the detainees, so we came here in the early morning. My brother has been detained for two months and we heard that he is sick and he has no medication." 0.56 4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) SHEIKH ABDUL SATTAR FROM DIYALA CITY, A BROTHER OF ONE OF THE DETAINEES, SAYING: " The number of the detainees which will be released is not enough. For example the person I am waiting for, his release may be number 15000." 1.11 5. GV: PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE THE PRISON 1.16 6. LV/PAN:U.S. SOLDIERS WALKING OUTSIDE THE PRISON 1.23 7. LV: EXTERIOR OF THE PRISON 1.35 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 23rd January 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ABU GHRAIB BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVACR4UMZSDD54PXXAKWWKH1C88
- Story Text: Relatives of Iraqis held by U.S forces wait for
their release.
Anxious relatives of detainees waited outside Abu
Gharib prison in early morning on Thursday (January 8) for
the release of their family members.
Abu Ghraib, a notorious prison under Saddam Hussein was
renovated by the Americans after they toppled the old
regime. The families were kept outside the prison compound
waiting for word from the U.S. forces guarding the prison
for the time of the release.
"We were not informed by anybody about the release, we
heard on the radio and television that they (U.S. forces)
will release detainees, so we came here in the early
morning. My brother has been detained for two months and we
heard that he is sick and he has no medication," said
Hussein Ali, as he waited.
The US-led coalition said on Wednesday it would release
100 Iraqi prisons on Thursday, with hundreds more to be
freed in the coming weeks, The gesture came as the
coalition looks to assuage the smouldering resentment
of Saddam Hussein's Sunni Muslim religious community
after the former leaders capture.
Those released will be set free on the understanding
they must renounce violence and have a guarantor, such as a
prominent person in his community or a religious or tribal
leader, who will accept responsibility for the good conduct
of the individual.
Paul Bremer, Iraq's U.S. governor said those being
freed were not directly linked to attacks against US
forces, or involved in torture or crimes against humanity.
A coalition spokesman later said, on condition of
anonymity, that 506 prisoners were slated to be freed in
the next few weeks.
Bremer added the coalition was exploring ways to provide
family members greater access to those who would remain
behind bars..
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