Saddam Hussein Frees All Political Prisoners

["John F. Bargh" <ja@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - President Saddam Hussein issued an unprecedented
general amnesty Sunday to all political prisoners and exiles sentenced
in absentia to mark his perfect 100 percent win in an uncontested
election last week.

"All jailed prisoners, detainees and sentenced fugitives for political
reasons are granted a complete, comprehensive and final amnesty," Saddam
declared in a decree.

The amnesty included criminal prisoners.

"Prisoners and detainees will be set free immediately except in the case
of those who are sentenced or detained because of killing, then they
would be set free only if the families of victims would forgive them or
if they pay back their debts to the government or people," it said.

The amnesty, which could lead to the release of thousands of prisoners,
is the first time the Iraqi president has pardoned all political
prisoners in his 23-year rule.

The amnesty was issued in a statement released to Iraqi state media.

Official results of Tuesday's presidential referendum, dismissed by
Washington, showed every one of the nearly 11.5 million Iraqis eligible
to vote turned out to cast a "yes" ballot, giving Saddam another seven-
year term in office.

"In light of these results...we show mercy rather than punishment and
amnesty rather than implementing the law and legal persecution," Saddam
said in a statement read on Iraqi television by Information Minister
Mohammed Said al-Sahara.

***

I wonder how this will affect the Western resolve on the proposed Iraqi
war. Comments?

--
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John F. Bargh
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"Go on, get out. Last words are for fools who haven't said enough."
- Karl Marx's Last Words, to his Housekeeper.
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