The Iraqi government blinks in its faceoff with terrorist ringleader Musab al-Zarqawi, which would seem to guarantee even more terror in the future.
Iraq's justice ministry says one of two female scientists held in US custody will be released on Thursday. It said the move was not linked to the demands of militants who have killed two Americans and threatened to kill Briton Kenneth Bigley.Militants beheaded the second American, Jack Hensley, on Tuesday, according to a statement on an Islamist website. The kidnappers have demanded the release of all Iraqi women held in US-run prisons, without naming names.
The first US hostage, American engineer Eugene Armstrong, 52, was killed on Monday and 24 hours later the group claimed to have killed a second American, Jack Hensley. A decapitated body, thought to be that of Mr Hensley, has been found in Baghdad, but it has not been formally identified. Mr Hensley would have been 49 on Wednesday.
Ms Taha is said to have carried out top-secret work during the 1980s on germs that cause botulism poisoning and anthrax infections. A second woman, Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, "may be released soon", the Iraqi justice ministry said.
An Iraqi spokesman said Ms Taha's planned release was part of a review of her detention, adding she was no longer considered a threat to national security.
"The Iraqi authorities have agreed with coalition forces to conditionally release Rihab Rashid Taha on bail," said spokesman Noori Abdul-Rahim Ibrahim.
UPDATE: The U.S. says, "no way," according to news reports. Note that Prime Minister Allawi is in New York for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly.
The United States said Wednesday a high-profile Iraqi woman prisoner will not be released any time soon, knocking down a statement from a senior Iraqi official. Iraqi militants who beheaded two Americans have threatened to kill a Briton unless female detainees are freed.After the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said there would be no immediate release of either of the two women in U.S. custody, Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said there were no plans to free the detainees, disputing the earlier statement by his Justice Department that a decision was made to release one of them.
Allawi told The Associated Press that no release of prisoners is imminent, though his government has begun reviewing the status of its detainees, including the two female scientists known as "Dr. Germ" and "Mrs. Anthrax" for their involvement in Saddam Hussein's biological weapons programs.
"We have not been negotiating and we will not negotiate with terrorists on the release of hostages," he said.
Posted by Alan at September 22, 2004 05:35 AM