Hundreds of Iraqi prisoners were released from the infamous Abu Ghraib jail here Friday, some accusing their US captors of maltreatment, as an abuse scandal continues to dog coalition forces.
Some 13 buses filled with Iraqis left the gates of the notorious prison, where thousands of political prisoners were executed under president Saddam Hussein, as part of a scheduled release of 472 prisoners.
As the vehicles pulled away through the dust under the baking sun, female relatives of detainees, among hundreds who crowd outside the prison every day for news of loved ones, wailed out.
"I've been waiting here for eight hours. I hope 16 of my relatives will be released today," said Hamed Idham Jassem, 24, who says his brothers and cousins, arrested last September, are jailed at Abu Ghraib.
But there was jubilation for reunited families. Ahlam (correct) Ahmed was overjoyed to embrace her grinning son, who was delighted to be a free man once again.
"Alas, two of my other sons have not been released. I'll continue to wait, but I'm frightened for them. I'll only rest when the last American soldier leaves the country," she told AFP.
Prisoners pressed their faces against the grubby windows, straining to pick out their own relatives from the crowd.
Many said they did not know why they had been picked up. Others complained they had been treated badly. One claimed he had been ordered to clean his tent equipped only with a toothbrush.
FOUR DETAINED OVER BERG BEHEADING: Coalition forces detained four people in connection with the beheading of US businessman Nicholas Berg, two of whom remained in custody, US Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said Friday.
"In Baghdad coalition forces conducted a raid to capture four individuals suspected of involvement in the Nicholas Berg assassination," Kimmitt told a press conference, adding the raid took place "two days ago". "Four persons were detained and questioned, two personnel were released and the other two are still being questioned"
COUNCIL SLAMS US FOR CHALABI RAID: Members of Iraq's Governing Council condemned a raid on the house and offices of Washington's former top Iraq ally Ahmad Chalabi and said on Friday it was orchestrated by the US-led administration.
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