Related Articles
BAGHDAD – The U.S. military says the number of detainees it is holding in Iraq has dropped to 13,832 from a peak of 26,000 two years ago.
The prisoners are being released or transferred to Iraqi custody to meet the requirements of a security agreement that took effect on Jan. 1.
American forces in Iraq can no longer hold suspects without charge as they have done since the U.S.-led 2003 invasion. The agreement requires the American military to hand over detainees wanted by the Iraqis and release the rest.
The military says in a statement issued Tuesday that it has been releasing an average of 50 detainees a day.