BAGHDAD, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. military Thursday released 100 Iraqi prisoners who hadn't been involved in armed attacks against U.S. forces.
Families of the prisoners waited for the release some 500 meters outside the gate of Abou Gharib prison west of Baghdad where they were dropped by two U.S. military buses in the afternoon.
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The prisoners constituted the first batch of some 500 Iraqis who are expected to be released in coming days.
The move, U.S. Administrator Paul Bremer said, is aimed at paving the way for national reconciliation in Iraq.
An estimated 9,000 Iraqis are detained by the U.S. forces on suspicion of involvement in anti-U.S. attacks.
