Al Anbar
21-09-2004, 23:28
al-Jazeera News
Iraqis today protested in front of the Ministry of Information building in central Baghdad, demanding information on four prisoners that were not released when an amnesty was declared a week ago.
The group, approximately two dozen people, demanded information of their family members while also shouting pro-government chants and telling our reporters that this is not an anti-Government protest, they simply wanted more information about their relatives.
After about twenty five minutes, several armed men came out of the building, all but two were dressed in civilian clothing. They shot a couple of shots in the air and explained to the crowd that they "will soon receive information about" their relatives. The crowd then dispersed, but not less than thirty minutes later, several people returned and began to protest again.
For ten minutes they were out there before the armed men returned and ordered them to leave. After pushing and shoving some of the protestors, the protestors left.
The amnesty was declared almost one in a half weeks ago, allowing all prisoners out as long as they were able to secure the "okay" from the victim or the relatives of the victim within thirty days. If the victim or their family does not approve of the release, then the prisoner would be returned to prison to serve out the rest of their sentence.
Iraqis today protested in front of the Ministry of Information building in central Baghdad, demanding information on four prisoners that were not released when an amnesty was declared a week ago.
The group, approximately two dozen people, demanded information of their family members while also shouting pro-government chants and telling our reporters that this is not an anti-Government protest, they simply wanted more information about their relatives.
After about twenty five minutes, several armed men came out of the building, all but two were dressed in civilian clothing. They shot a couple of shots in the air and explained to the crowd that they "will soon receive information about" their relatives. The crowd then dispersed, but not less than thirty minutes later, several people returned and began to protest again.
For ten minutes they were out there before the armed men returned and ordered them to leave. After pushing and shoving some of the protestors, the protestors left.
The amnesty was declared almost one in a half weeks ago, allowing all prisoners out as long as they were able to secure the "okay" from the victim or the relatives of the victim within thirty days. If the victim or their family does not approve of the release, then the prisoner would be returned to prison to serve out the rest of their sentence.