Washington: Syria's wounded soldiers are not war prisoners, will return soon
Syria-USA, Politics, 6/28/2003

The US has announced that the wounded Syrians held by it have been medically treated and arrangements are being made to return them home, refusing to describe them as "war prisoners."

Lawrence De Rita, the advisor of the US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that the Americans still do not know the identity of those who were in the caravan which was targeted by a US attack last week in the Iraqi territories near the Syrian borders.

De Rita did not explain how the five Syrians were wounded. He indicated that the condition on how they were involved in the clashes were not clear. He also indicated that it was not known if they had connection with persons who were in the procession.

He added that three Syrian soldiers were admitted to an American hospital in Baghdad for treatment because their wounds were more critical, while the other two were treated in the area of the accident. He added the five Syrians have been brought together and are waiting to return to Syria which "I expect to be soon," noting that arrangements are made with the Syrians through the American embassy in Damascus.

The American official said that the Syrian wounded soldiers "are not prisoners. They are not in this status, we are hosting them at the moment."

Previous Stories:
  Israeli news on delegating Tenet to Syria   (6/27/2003)
  Syria official complaint for US attack of Syrian patrol south of Abu Kamal   (6/26/2003)
  Washington confirms attacking Syrian procession, five Syrian border guards wounded   (6/24/2003)

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