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One of two Iraqi female prisoners may be freed
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-22 13:28

One of two Iraqi female scientists in U.S. detention could be released on Wednesday, a senior Justice Ministry official said, in a move that may raise hopes for the release of a British hostage.

The official, who asked not to be named, said that Rihab Taha, a biological weapons scientist dubbed "Dr Germ" by U.S. soldiers, could be freed as part of a review of her detention.

"It is possible, God willing. Her case has been under review," he said.

Militants who kidnapped two Americans and a Briton in Baghdad last week have killed two of them after their demands for female prisoners to be released from Iraqi jails were not met. The third hostage, Briton Kenneth Bigley, is believed to be still alive.

Britain's Guardian newspaper reported on Wednesday that Iraq's justice minister said the cases of Taha and a second female scientist, Huda Ammash, were being reviewed, but it had nothing to do with the hostage situation.

Iraq's interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi, as well as President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have repeatedly said that they will not negotiate with hostage-takers.

The kidnappers' original demand referred to female prisoners in Abu Ghraib and Umm Qasr jails. The U.S. military has said that no women are held at those prisons, and that the two female scientists are the only women in detention.

A U.S. military official said he could not comment specifically on the cases of Taha and Ammash, but said the detention of so-called high value detainees was constantly under review.

"There is a review process in place and it has been and continues to be employed," said Lieutenant Colonel Barry Johnson, a spokesman for detainee operations in Iraq.

He said he had heard reports about the possible release of one of the female scientists but could not confirm anything.



 
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