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Iraqis wait for release of promised detainees { January 8 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/01/08/international1006EST0523.DTL http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/01/08/international1006EST0523.DTL Iraqis wait in vain for release of detainees SARAH EL DEEB, and Thursday, January 8, 2004 ©2004 Associated Press (01-08) 07:06 PST (AP) -- JIM KRANE Associated Press Writers BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Hundreds of angry Iraqis gathered outside Baghdad's infamous Abu Ghraib prison, waiting for a release of detainees that the U.S.-led coalition promised would happen Thursday. The Iraqis who had waited for their relatives since dawn grew increasingly frustrated when the amnesty did not occur by late afternoon. U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer had said 506 of some 12,800 detainees would be freed in a goodwill gesture from the jail, where Saddam Hussein's regime once tortured political opponents. The first 100 were to be released Thursday. But coalition spokesman Dan Senor said officials were waiting for community and tribal leaders to guarantee the good conduct of those to be given their freedom. "He (Bremer) said that approximately 100 would be ready to be released today. They are ready," but their release was being held up as officials waited for guarantors to step forward, Senor said. Earlier, a military interpreter stood next to a U.S. soldier atop a Humvee and told people to go home, saying those freed would be taken by bus and dropped off at an undisclosed location. There was confusion when three truckloads of prisoners were driven out of the facility. Those waiting rushed into a busy highway after the trucks, stopping traffic. Drivers got out of their cars and people hugged and kissed in joy. But a U.S. official said that was a routine prisoner release unrelated to the amnesty announced Wednesday. "This has nothing to do with Bremer's announcement," Lt. Col. Roy Shere said. U.S. and coalition troops have rounded up thousands of people suspected in attacks or funding for the anti-American insurgency in Iraq since President Bush declared an end to major hostilities on May 1. Shere, a spokesman for the 800th Military Police Brigade, which operates prisons in Iraq, said his unit had not received any order for the amnesty. "Until we get some information that says 'release these prisoners,' they are staying put," he said. People started arriving at the prison from first light, some driving for hours in hopes that relatives not seen for months would be among those released. "I don't trust the Americans. They are making more enemies for themselves now by arresting innocent people," said Jassin Rasheed. He said his brother, Omar, was detained two months ago after fighting with a fellow security guard at an oil installation. "For revenge, they told the Americans that my brother is a terrorist," Rasheed said. There were many other claims of unjust detentions: Bedouins arrested as they tended sheep; a son taken away because he was near the scene of an attack on American soldiers; a name given to U.S. troops to avenge some dispute; a father arrested because he had a rifle in his car. "Everyone in Iraq has a gun," said Karim Mohammed, 30, who was detained with his brother but released 10 days ago. He said police came to their home and asked for his brother by name, then arrested the two when they found an AK-47. "These are all false accusations," he said. "Some people are avenging themselves, anyone who wants to get his own back just goes to the Americans and reports that a person is a resistance fighter." Coalition officials said those to be released were low-level "associates" of insurgents who were not directly involved in any attacks. "I want to assure you that this is not a program for those with bloodstained hands," Bremer said Wednesday. "Nor will we release people accused of torture or crimes against humanity." The release of Iraqis held indefinitely and without charge has been a top demand of the country's community and tribal leaders, as well as human rights advocates who say families are searching for relatives who get detained and are not heard from for months. Bremer appeared to be addressing those complaints, and said relatives of those not released would be given more access to detainees. One military official described the typical prisoner to be freed as a person swept up in a raid that also captured "more dangerous persons" and perhaps weapons. Another official suggested the detainees may have acted out of fear of Saddam Hussein's possible return. Bremer described the release as a pardon for some Iraqis who worked against the U.S. occupation. "They made a mistake and they know it," he said. "But we are prepared to offer some of them a new chance." Those to be freed must first sign a statement renouncing violence and have a community or tribal leader accept responsibility for their conduct, he said. The total number of detainees was not known. The military announces dozens of arrests daily, but many apparently are released within hours or days. Some have complained of ill-treatment. ©2004 Associated Press

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 brain-washed-insurgents civil-war contractor-stoffel death-squads foreign-insurgents surge undercover-brits-basra US-fueling-fire wounded-soldiers zarqawi 2m iraqi refugees mainly children in syria { October 16 2007 } 50 thousand iraqi insurgents dead or caught { July 26 2005 } 7 deadliest attacks since war to 2005 { January 5 2006 } 70 percent of iraqi children show signs of trauma Alqaeda in iraq accused to be sunni group { January 29 2007 } Alqaeda in iraq working for pay no ideals { November 30 2007 } American matthew waxman captured Americas intifada Army discharges 3 in beating scandal { January 6 2004 } Army failed to anticipate iraqi insurgency { June 29 2008 } Baghdad sniper oddly only targets coalition troops { August 5 2005 } Britain to cut troop level in iraq { September 19 2004 } Chemical weapons used during fallujah assault { November 8 2005 } Cia estimates insurgents now 50000 strong Critism on rumsfeld mounts { September 14 2003 } Daniel pipes says civil war could have strategic advantage { February 28 2006 } Honduras troop in iraq [jpg] Insurgency disrupts power to iraqi citizens { February 21 2005 } Insurgency is no ho chi minh says rumsfeld Insurgency larger and mostly secular iraqis { July 9 2004 } Insurgency violence strikes mainly iraqi civilians { March 3 2006 } Insurgents seek to exploit sectarian rivalries { May 17 2005 } Iraq now prime training ground for militants { June 22 2005 } Iraq oil pipeline blasts squander revenue Iraq rebels want democracy and independence { August 6 2004 } Iraqi woman confesses to jordan attack Iraqis wait for release of promised detainees { January 8 2004 } La times ordered not to use term resistance { November 7 2003 } Madonna calls for troops to come home Not resistance fighters times told reporters Occupation blamed for new iraq terror front { July 18 2005 } Officials say hussein coordinating attacks { October 31 2003 } Rice concedes thousands of tactical errors in iraq Sectarian revenge killings raise civil war fears { May 17 2005 } Sectarian war spreads to pakistan and afghanistan { February 10 2006 } Shiites torture sunnis into false confession Spanish leader pulling troops from iraq { April 18 2004 } Spy agencies warned of iraq resistance { September 9 2003 } US considers elite squads for iraq Us deaths not fully reported { October 30 2003 } US underestimated size of insurgency { January 27 2005 } Usa today founder calls for troops return home { December 23 2004 } Files Listed: 42

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