Iraqi cabinet approves draft general pardon law for thousands of prisoners

[babylonsister]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/12/iraqi_cabinet_approves_draft_g.php

Iraqi cabinet approves draft general pardon law

REUTERS
Reuters North American News Service

Dec 26, 2007 05:56 EST

BAGHDAD, Dec 26 (Reuters) - The Iraqi cabinet approved a draft law on Wednesday that will offer a general pardon to thousands of prisoners in U.S. military and Iraqi custody, a government spokesman said.

"The cabinet has passed the general pardon law, which will define who is eligible to be freed from all prisons, both Iraqi and American," spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Reuters.

The law still needs to be approved by parliament.

Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, said earlier this month that the draft law was aimed at boosting reconciliation between majority Shi'ite and Sunni Arab Muslims, locked in a cycle of violence.

The issue of detainees in both U.S. and Iraqi jails is one of the most sensitive, especially as detentions have soared since military operations were stepped up this year.

The Iraqi authorities now hold 24,000 detainees and U.S. forces 26,000. Critics say only a small proportion of those held are ever prosecuted.

Sunni Arab leaders have repeatedly called for the release of detainees in American custody, most of whom are Sunni Arabs held as suspected insurgents.

The U.S. military has said it intends to free most of its detainees by the end of next year.

(Reporting by Mariam Karouny; writing by Ross Colvin; editing by Andrew Roche)

Source: Reuters North American News Service