Thirteen buses loaded with Iraqis left the prison early today as crowds of onlookers waved Iraqi flags and chanted "God is Great."
A U.S. spokeswoman said that about 600 prisoners would be freed today.
The release was the second from the facility since the scandal over the abuse of detainees became public in April. Following the revelations of abuse, U.S. officials said they plan to reduce the prison population.
In a speech on 24 May, U.S. President George W. Bush proposed tearing down the Abu Ghurayb prison.
Also in Iraq, two Japanese journalists traveling near Baghdad were killed late yesterday when gunmen attacked their car,
setting it on fire.
Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that two badly burned bodies believed to be those of the Japanese journalists were taken to a hospital south of the Iraqi capital.
Japanese officials said the journalists were attacked as they drove from the southern city of Samawah, where Japan has deployed troops, to the Iraqi capital.
(AP/AFP/Reuters)
A U.S. spokeswoman said that about 600 prisoners would be freed today.
The release was the second from the facility since the scandal over the abuse of detainees became public in April. Following the revelations of abuse, U.S. officials said they plan to reduce the prison population.
In a speech on 24 May, U.S. President George W. Bush proposed tearing down the Abu Ghurayb prison.
Also in Iraq, two Japanese journalists traveling near Baghdad were killed late yesterday when gunmen attacked their car,
setting it on fire.
Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that two badly burned bodies believed to be those of the Japanese journalists were taken to a hospital south of the Iraqi capital.
Japanese officials said the journalists were attacked as they drove from the southern city of Samawah, where Japan has deployed troops, to the Iraqi capital.
(AP/AFP/Reuters)
