Prisoners released by US troops joining Al Qaeda: Iraq

Baghdad, May 19 (IANS/AKI) Iraqi security forces are concerned that many of the prisoners released by US troops are joining Al Qaeda terror network, according to local news site, Al-Sumaria News.

“Most of the prisoners freed by American forces from their prisons in the last few years have become Al-Qaeda leaders once they are released,” said Major General Qassim Atta, spokesman of Baghdad security forces.

“To stop this phenomenon we have signed a security accord with US troops, so that before freeing any prisoner they ask Iraqi forces their opinion,” he told reporters after his visit to Abu Ghraib jail.

More than 20,000 prisoners are in the custody of US troops in Iraq.

–IANS/AKI