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Afghanistan to free 88 'dangerous' prisoners Afghanistan to free 88 'dangerous' prisoners
(about 2 hours later)
Afghanistan is to release 88 prisoners even though the US considers them dangerous and wants them to remain in detention, the board reviewing their cases has said.Afghanistan is to release 88 prisoners even though the US considers them dangerous and wants them to remain in detention, the board reviewing their cases has said.
The prisoners are being held at a jail at the Bagram air base north of Kabul. The US only recently transferred the prison to Afghan control after it had become a serious source of tension with the Afghan government. The prisoners are being held at a jail at the Bagram airbase, north of Kabul. The US only recently transferred the prison to Afghan control after it had become a serious source of tension with the government.
President Hamid Karzai instructed Afghan intelligence officials to provide the review board with more evidence against the prisoners, after the US said there was proof of their involvement in the killing of foreign troops and they posed a serious threat to security.President Hamid Karzai instructed Afghan intelligence officials to provide the review board with more evidence against the prisoners, after the US said there was proof of their involvement in the killing of foreign troops and they posed a serious threat to security.
But the head of the review board, Abdul Shakor Dadras, said the evidence did not warrant keeping the prisoners any longer. But the head of the review board, Abdul Shakor Dadras, said the evidence did not warrant keeping the prisoners any longer. "The documents we have seen so far provide no reason to convict them," Dadras said on Sunday.
"The documents we have seen so far provide no reason to convict them," Dadras said on Sunday. "Our decision is to release them as soon as possible if there is no incriminating evidence against them." "Our decision is to release them as soon as possible if there is no incriminating evidence against them."
The disagreement over the prisoners is a further strain on Afghan-US relations already seriously soured by Karzai's refusal to sign a bilateral security deal to shape the American military presence after most foreign troops leave this year. The disagreement over the prisoners is a further strain on Afghan-US relations, already seriously soured by Karzai's refusal to sign a bilateral security deal to shape the American military presence after most foreign troops leave this year.
US senators in Afghanistan last week pressed the president to stop the release, warning it would irreparably damage relations with the US.US senators in Afghanistan last week pressed the president to stop the release, warning it would irreparably damage relations with the US.
The planned release has also alarmed many senior Afghan security officials, who often see released prisoners return to the battlefield.The planned release has also alarmed many senior Afghan security officials, who often see released prisoners return to the battlefield.
American officials say about 40% of the prisoners were involved in attacks in which 57 Afghan civilians and members of the Afghan security forces were killed or wounded. American officials say about 40% of the prisoners were involved in attacks in which 57 civilians and members of the Afghan security forces were killed or wounded.
A third of the prisoners had taken part in direct attacks that killed or wounded 60 members of Afghanistan's US-led NAato force.A third of the prisoners had taken part in direct attacks that killed or wounded 60 members of Afghanistan's US-led NAato force.
Karzai's office did not immediately comment.Karzai's office did not immediately comment.
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