The Iraqi justice ministry said on Thursday that U.S. forces would release six Iraqi women prisoners but that the move was not related to the demands of a militant group that kidnapped an American journalist. Al Jazeera television said on Tuesday that the kidnappers of Jill Carroll had threatened to kill her unless all Iraqi women detainees were freed. The U.S. military did not confirm the releases would take place. A spokesman said it could not discuss individual cases of detainees or ongoing reviews. The military said on Wednesday it was holding eight female prisoners in Iraq.
