VOA常速英语2007年-Iraqi Cabinet Approves Draft Law Pardoning Deta

The Iraqi Cabinet has taken a step aimed at promoting national reconciliation¹: a general pardon for thousands of prisoners held in Iraqi and American detention² facilities. From Washington, VOA's Michael Bowman reports.

Some 50,000 detainees are currently being held in Iraq, many of them suspected insurgents³ belonging to the country's Sunni Muslim minority. A draft law approved by the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki aims to identify prisoners who would be eligible⁴ for release under a general pardon. The law would have to be approved by Iraq's parliament to go into effect.

Iraq has seen a sharp increase in detentions⁵ since the United States initiated⁶ a troop surge aimed at restoring order to the strife⁷ torn country. Many prisoners are held without formal charges, and their fate is one of many sensitive issues believed to be complicating⁸ efforts to promote national reconciliation.

Meanwhile, U.S. military officials in Iraq are hailing the decision of many Sunni fighters to ally themselves with U.S. forces in the battle against al-Qaida terrorists in Iraq. The Associated Press quotes a U.S. military spokesman as saying the decision was one of the most important developments of 2007 as far as improving security in Iraq, contributing to a sharp reduction in violence in the country.

While not downplaying the significance of Iraq's improved security situation, some analysts⁹ in the United States and elsewhere have questioned the long-term effects of bolstering¹⁰ Sunni militants¹¹ in the fight against al-Qaida, noting that their weapons could one day be aimed at Iraq's Shi'ite-dominated national government.

Meanwhile, in the battle against al-Qaida in Iraq, the U.S. military has released new details about the recent killing¹² of a key leader of the terrorist organization. Major General Kevin Bergner made the announcement in Baghdad.

"A senior al-Qaida terrorist named Muhammad Sulayman Shunathir al-Zubai, also known as Abu Abdullah, was killed south of Samarra. Abu Abdullah was a legacy¹³ al-Qaida terroristm," he said.

General Bergner described the terrorist as an experienced bomb-maker who coordinated¹⁴ numerous attacks against multinational¹⁵ and Iraqi forces. The U.S. military says he was killed last month.