Iraqi Prisoners

U.S. Releases Group of Iraqi Prisoners

"BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military on Friday released a group of prisoners from the Abu Ghraib jail, center of a scandal involving abuse of detainees by American soldiers.

Several buses carrying prisoners left the prison on the western outskirts of Baghdad. It was unclear where they were headed. In previous releases, buses ferried detainees to U.S. military compounds where Iraqi community leaders welcomed them and escorted some of them home.

Earlier this week, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said the military planned to release 472 prisoners on Friday.

The military periodically frees prisoners from Abu Ghraib, which was also notorious as the site of executions and torture during Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime.

The military is still sending detainees who are considered security risks to Abu Ghraib."