Coalition releases 887 Iraqi prisoners

US and British forces have released 887 Iraqi prisoners, but continue to hold 7,000 others as they sort through those captured in the month-long war in Iraq, the Pentagon said yesterday.

“We are busy going through the process of determining their status. We have said all along that we don’t want to hold anybody any longer than necessary,” said Navy Cmdr Chris Isleib, a Defence Department spokesman.

He said the 887 released yesterday had been determined to be noncombatants and were not part of any Iraqi military force.