BAGHDAD: The US military has released a Shiite militant accused of being involved in one of the most brazen attacks of the war that killed five American soldiers in 2007, the Iraqi government said yesterday.
Laith Al-Khazali’s release comes amid reports of negotiations with his militia group to free at least one of five British hostages who were seized in a separate attack. But government officials insisted the release was just part of national reconciliation efforts.
Khazali and his brother Qais, who were both detained in March 2007, are accused of organizing a bold raid on a local government headquarters in Kerbala in which the attackers were disguised as US soldiers and killed five Americans on Jan. 20, 2007. The brothers are leading members Asaib Al-Haq, or League of the Righteous, which is allegedly backed by Iran.
Danny Chism, who lost his son, Spc. Johnathan Bryan Chism, in the attack, expressed shock that Khazali was released without a trial. “Somebody needs to answer for it,” the Donaldsonville, Louisiana, man said.
The Iraqi government said Khazali was freed Sunday after he was handed over to them by the US military but insisted the release was not part of the hostage negotiations. “His release is part of the national reconciliation effort,” government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh said.
“We are not part of these negotiations but we do support the release of the hostages.” The US military has been releasing detainees or transferring them to Iraqi custody as part of a security pact that took effect on Jan. 1.
Khazali’s release takes on added significance because it follows reports of an agreement that one of five British hostages would be freed in exchange for the release of 10 members of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq.
