(21 Mar 2008)
1. Wide of released detainees seated
2. Mid of released detainees
3. Various of US and Iraqi army officials seated with police
4. Various of released detainees reading oath on Holy Quran
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Hort, United States Army Colonel:
"This is a great day for Azamiyah, for Baghdad, but most importantly Iraq. Today we are repatriating several Iraqi individuals back into society."
6. Close of released detainee hugging and kissing relative holding young girl
7. Close of released detainee with relative
8. Mid of released detainee hugging and kissing a group of relatives and friends
9. Mid of released detainee kissing young girl
10. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Muntasir Abdul Mahdi, released detainee:
"I was detained in Bucca detention centre and arrested by US forces. They said that they would make inquiries, but I was there for one year. I am innocent, they released us because we are innocent."
11. Mid of released detainee at his mothers feet and hugging her
12. Released detainees hugging relatives and friends
STORYLINE:
The US military has released 13 Iraqi detainees who were welcomed home in a ceremony in the former Sunni insurgent stronghold of Azamiyah in northern Baghdad.
It's the latest in a series of releases meant as a goodwill gesture to promote reconciliation efforts with minority Sunnis who have recently turned against al-Qaida in Iraq.
"This is a great day for Azamiyah, for Baghdad, but most importantly Iraq. Today we are repatriating several Iraqi individuals back into society," said John Hort, United States Army Colonel.
The detainees read an oath whilst holding the Holy Quran, before US and Iraqi army officials and police.
After the reading, detainees were reunited with friends and family.
Released detainee, Muntasir Abdul-Mahdi, said he had been detained at Camp Bucca for a year after being arrested by US troops.
"They said that they would make inquiries, but I was there for one year," he told AP Television News.
"I am innocent. They released us because we are innocent."
American officials have touted the sharp decline in violence over the past year as sign the Bush administration's strategy in Iraq is beginning to show signs of success, despite widespread opposition to the conflict within the American public.

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