Iraqi Amnesty Law Could Free Thousands of Prisoners

A proposal that would grant amnesty to thousands of prisoners held by the U.S.-led coalition and by Iraq has received the backing of the Iraqi government. As many as 50,000 are in custody of either the U.S. or Iraq, most for some form of aiding anti-Iraq and anti-coalition forces – or suspicion of doing so. Many have been held without charges having been brought against them.  Parliament will debate the law on Sunday. Officials believe a general pardon for those suspected of specific crimes will go a long way toward reconciling the nation and in particular uniting Sunnis and Shias.