Saddam frees US prisoners
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.President Saddam Hussein has pardoned two Americans serving eight years in jail for illegally entering Iraq from Kuwait, and ordered that they be released immediately, writes Patrick Cockburn.
The decision came after a visiting US Congressman, Bill Richardson, met the Iraqi leader in Baghdad and conveyed "a humanitarian plea from President Bill Clinton, the US Congress and the American people" to President Saddam to free the two men, according to the Iraqi News Agency.
William Barloon, 39, and David Daliberti, 41, who were arrested in March and accused of espionage, were working for US defence contractors in Kuwait when they strayed across the Iraqi border while visiting friends at Umm Qasr, near the frontier. It is not clear why Saddam has released them now.
No easing is likely of the UN embargo on Iraq, which was imposed in 1990 but has since become a cornerstone of US policy in the Gulf. In theory the embargo should be lifted when Iraq satisfies UN inspectors that it is not concealing weapons of mass destruction, but it is likely to be continued, as a weak Iraq suits the US.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments