BAGHDAD - US and Iraqi authorities have released more than 400 male prisoners over the past few days, the US military said on Saturday. “About 430 male detainees were released over the last several days,” a statement said.The releases took place after a joint Iraq-US board reviewed the cases of the detainees. Some 27,900 detainees have had their cases reviewed by the board since August 2004 and more than 14,600 have been freed, according to the US military.
Last week Major General Rick Lynch, spokesman for the coalition forces in Iraq, had announced that a fresh batch of about 450 detainees was to be released soon. Earlier in the month the US military released 50 men. In January, it freed more than 400 detainees, including five women. Four women continue to be held in prisons.
Last monthÂ’s release of women detainees attracted public attention as it followed shortly on demands by the kidnappers of US reporter Jill Carroll for the freeing of all female prisoners in Iraq. Both US and Iraqi spokesmen strongly denied any link at the time and have repeatedly said they would not negotiate with hostage-takers.