Agencies  --  Arab News

BAGHDAD, 13 June 2004 — The US-led coalition in Iraq is to release another 650 detainees from the infamous Abu Ghraib prison tomorrow, its deputy director of military operations said yesterday.

“The next detainee release from Abu Ghraib is scheduled for 14 June when 650 detainees are scheduled to be released,” Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt told a Baghdad news conference.

Over the past month, hundreds of detainees have already been set free from the facility at the centre of the US prisoner abuse scandal.

Nine busloads of prisoners left the jail on the western outskirts of the Iraqi capital on June 6, following another 13 busloads on May 28. A further 464 detainees were released on May 21.

US commanders first launched the policy of freeing low-threat prisoners early this year, as it faced mounting overcrowding in detention centers across Iraq.

They accelerated the program in May after graphic footage was shown around the world of US prison guards threatening and sexually humiliating prisoners at Abu Ghraib last autumn.

Meanwhile, the US military has released four journalists who were detained after explosives residue was found on them as they tried to enter the US headquarters in Baghdad, an army spokesman said yesterday. Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmit said two Iraqis and two Turks were arrested on June 7 after sniffer dogs found the residue. They were released four days later.

“There was some concern about the press credentials that they were carrying but after further investigation their credentials were substantiated,” Kimmitt told a news conference.

“It was determined that these persons were not a threat and hence they were released.”

A US military official in the heavily fortified US administration compound, known as the “Green Zone”, said earlier this week that explosives had also been discovered in the four people’s hotel room.