U.S. Releases 250 More Iraqi POWs

UMM AL QASR, Iraq — American forces freed 250 more war prisoners Tuesday in southern Iraq, continuing to empty U.S.-run detention camps that once housed more than 7,000 men.

In the last two weeks, more than 5,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees have been released from Camp Bucca after a military tribunal determined they posed no threat, said Sgt. Maj. Ambrose Michelino, a U.S. military policeman.

Michelino said he expected 400 to 900 “hard-core” prisoners would continue to be held for questioning. “These are the ones who have ties to not-so-nice groups,” he said.