ID :
68454
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 16:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/68454
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Iranian diplomats to be released soon after handed over to Iraqi gov
An informed Iraqi source said on Tuesday that the five Iranian diplomats who were captured by US forces in the Iraqi city of Erbil would soon be released after being handed over to the Iraqi government.
The five were abducted when US forces broke into the Iranian consulate in Iraq's Kurdish city of Erbil, some 350 kms north of Baghdad, on January 11, 2007.
"As Baghdad believes the kidnapped diplomats have not committed any offences, therefore, they would be released as soon as possible," the Iraqi source told IRNA, speaking on anonymity condition.
According to the US-Iraq agreement, the US combat troops are to pull out from Iraq's cities and main towns as of June 30 as the war-torn country troops take solely the charge of security in a major stepping stone to a complete American withdrawal.
Most US soldiers are to retreat to their main bases and only re-enter urban areas if the Iraqi security forces ask for their support in tackling unrest or conducting other operations.
End
The five were abducted when US forces broke into the Iranian consulate in Iraq's Kurdish city of Erbil, some 350 kms north of Baghdad, on January 11, 2007.
"As Baghdad believes the kidnapped diplomats have not committed any offences, therefore, they would be released as soon as possible," the Iraqi source told IRNA, speaking on anonymity condition.
According to the US-Iraq agreement, the US combat troops are to pull out from Iraq's cities and main towns as of June 30 as the war-torn country troops take solely the charge of security in a major stepping stone to a complete American withdrawal.
Most US soldiers are to retreat to their main bases and only re-enter urban areas if the Iraqi security forces ask for their support in tackling unrest or conducting other operations.
End
