'Thousands of Iraqi prisoners could be released in months'

Adnan Pachachi was speaking in an interview with BBC radio, a day after some 60 Iraqi prisoners were released from the Abu Gharib prison near Baghdad following a pledge by US overseer Paul Bremer to start freeing hundreds of detainees.

"The majority of those released are very happy to be back to their homes and there has been a great deal of satisfaction and joy in Iraq because we expect that several hundreds more and perhaps even few thousands to be released in the next few months," Pachachi said.

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"The policy that has been agreed on that there should be released several hundreds perhaps thousands in the next few months," he said, adding that freeing further detainees is "something which would ease the situation" in Iraq and help promote reconciliation.

According to coalition figures, some 9,300 detainees are being held in the US-run prisons. That does not include 3,800 detained members of the Iranian armed opposition People's Mujahedeen, which enjoyed Saddam's patronage.

Bremer meanwhile has announced a scheme to free 506 inmates.

Pachachi said screening of prisoners was necessary "to be absolutely sure that those released have not been implicated in acts of violence against the Iraqis as well as against coalition troops".

"There is a continuous consultation going on between the governing council and the coalition administration" regarding prisoners' release, he said, adding that consultation would continue until US-led occupation of Iraq ends.

The coalition has set an end-June deadline for returning sovereignty to Iraq.