Iraqi President Saddam Hussein declared an amnesty on Tuesday for certain prisoners, including some on death row, to mark the 14th anniversary of the end of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.
In line with a decree issued by the Revolution Command Council, the country's highest ruling body, prisoners who have served at least one year of a five-year prison term will be released. Those who have served at least two years of a 10-year sentence will also be freed, as will those who have served at least five years of a sentence of more than 10 years, said the decree, signed by the Iraqi leader and carried by INA.
Prisoners facing the gallows for crimes other than drug trafficking, spying or premeditated murder, will also see their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment. The number of prisoners who are to benefit from the amnesty was not provided by the news agency. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
