24,621 Released, East Germans Say

Communist East Germany released 24,621 prisoners under a two-month general amnesty that ended over the weekend, the official news agency ADN said Sunday. Western sources said the amnesty included about 2,000 political prisoners.

The amnesty, which ended Saturday, marked the 38th anniversary of the founding of East Germany. It did not include people convicted of war crimes, espionage, murder or crimes against humanity.

ADN said 2,714 more prisoners will not have to serve their sentences. The agency added that 1,743 people were released from investigative custody under the amnesty, which was announced in July and began Oct. 12.