U.S. Protecting Released Iraqi Officials

"AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - U.S. forces are providing protection for most of a group of top officials from Saddam Hussein's government who were recently released from custody, an Iraqi lawyer said Wednesday.

The officials were freed after no charges were filed against them. They included Rihab Taha, known as "Dr. Germ" for her role in making bio-weapons for Saddam's regime in the 1980s, and Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, known as "Mrs. Anthrax," a former top Baath Party official and biotech researcher.

The lawyer, Badee Izzat Aref, said this week that up to 25 officials were released. The U.S. military confirmed that eight individuals formerly designated as "high-value detainees" were freed Saturday.

Aref said Wednesday that most of those released "are under the protection of the American forces in Iraq until they find a safe haven either in Iraq or abroad.""
MyWay