US troops release about 100 Iraqi detainees

(19 Mar 2009)
1. Wide exterior of the Sunni Um al-Qura mosque in Baghdad's Gazalia neighbourhood, where prisoners were released
2. Mid of mosque
3. Top-shot of prisoners after being released, greeted by friends and relatives
4. Various of prisoners hugging relatives and friends after being released
5. Mid of prisoners sitting
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Muhand Juma, released prisoner:
"They (US and Iraqi forces) accused me of being a leader of a terrorist group, then it was clarified that the accusation is wrong. Therefore, the American troops have released me.''
7. Woman kissing a released detainee
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Major Kone Faulkner, US army officer:
''These individuals that we were releasing today were initially seen as an imminent threat, but through... since the security agreement's been signed and the government of Iraq's judicial system has been in place, they are now reviewing the packets on each one of these individuals, identifying those who do not have a warrant and as well those who have been identified (as being people) who will not pose a threat to the local (residents) of Baghdad."
9. Wide top-shot of released detainees and their relatives
STORYLINE
The US military released about 100 more Iraqi detainees in Baghdad on Thursday, in accordance with the security agreement which came into effect on January 1.
The prisoners, who were detained in Camp Bucca in Basra, were released near the Um al-Qura Sunni mosque in Badghad's Gazalia neighbourhood.
US army officer, Major Kone Faulkner said that the detainees had initially been identified as "an imminent threat" but that their status had been reviewed.
Earlier this month, the US military said the number of detainees held by the Americans in Iraq has dropped to 13,832 from a peak of 26-thousand in 2007.
A military statement said US forces have been releasing an average of 50 detainees a day.
Under the security deal, US forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30 and the entire country by January 1, 2012.

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