Baghdad, December 06: Iran’s Ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Danaeifar says Iraqi President Jalal Talebani has agreed to release a considerable number of Iranian prisoners.
“Iraq has agreed to release 110 Iranian prisoners held in Iraq,” Mehr News Agency quoted Danaeifar as saying after his meeting with Talebani on Sunday.
“Political, economic and trade cooperation were discussed, and also the issue of the Iranian prisoners’ release was raised and Iraq’s president promised his help,” he went on to say.
“The Iranian prisoners in Iraq are two groups; one group has been imprisoned because of illegal entry and the other group because of drugs,” he further explained.
The Iranian official also pointed out that the Islamic Republic has extensive relations with Iraq’s political factions.
Danaeifar noted that in the historical night that Iraq’s parliament was formed, Iraqi leaders had made a big decision and passed a difficult stage making future decisions facilitated.
In November, Iraq’s main factions reached an agreement based on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki remaining in office another term and the Kurdish alliance’s Talabani retaining the presidency.
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi of the Iraqiya Alliance will also be a part of the government, as head of Iraq’s Council of Strategic Policy.
Iraqi lawmakers, moreover, elected Osama al-Nujaifi as the country’s parliament speaker. The post is to be held by Iraqiya.
Iraqiya managed to win most seats in the March 7 parliamentary elections, but failed to secure the absolute majority needed for a mandate.
——–Agencies