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KABUL, June 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The US-led coalition is
going to set free 53 suspected Taliban members in Afghan capital Kabul
Wednesday, US army spokesman said.
"The coalition is freeing 53 low grade Taliban from Bagram and Kandahar detention centers today," Jim Yonts told
journalists at a press conference here.
Their release is taking place after the return of
Afghan president Hamid Karzai from the United States where he asked White House
leadership to hand Afghan detainees over to the Afghan government.
Washington rejected his demand but promised to hand
them over to Kabul after thorough investigation.
"They were enemy combatants and their release is
taking place in coordination with the Afghan government," the spokesman added.
However, he refused to give more details.
The US army has so far released around 200 Afghan
detainees from Naval base prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba over the past two
years.
According to officials, over 500 Afghans have been
languishing at the US notorious Guantanamo Bay prison and 23 domestic holding
facilities on charge of having links with Taliban and al-Qaeda over the past
three and half years.
"It is our desire to release them and we continue to
release these people if we realize that they are no more threat to Afghan people
and to the US," noted the US officer. Enditem
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