Doctor Huda Ammash, known as 'Mrs Anthrax'. - REUTERS
BAGHDAD (Reuters):
SADDAM HUSSEIN'S weapons' experts known as 'Dr. Germ' and 'Mrs. Anthrax' are being released, an Iraqi lawyer said yesterday, and a United States military spokesman said eight such 'high-value detainees' had already been freed.
Tareq Aziz, Saddam's right-hand man in diplomacy, was among other detainees being considered for release later.
Lieutenant Colonel Barry Johnson said the eight freed on Saturday were among 27 prisoners, considered senior members of the administration overthrown by U.S. forces in 2003, who posed no threat to security, were neither charged with crimes nor were they material witnesses and had no intelligence value.
Johnson declined to identify any of the detainees or comment on the fate of those still held prisoner.
Baghdad lawyer Badia Aref said 26 people, including five who were ill, were now in the process of being released, including Huda Ammash, nicknamed 'Mrs. Anthrax' by the popular press, and Rihab Taha, dubbed 'Dr. Germ'.
