US pressure for Iraqi government formation

About 3,500 active-duty soldiers who were to begin their deployment to Iraq in the coming days will remain at their base in Schweinfurt, Germany, until further notice, defense officials announced today.

Members of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, were officially notified within recent days that they won't deploy early this month, as scheduled, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

Whitman cited signs of progress in Iraq during recent weeks, with indications Prime Minister Designate Jawad al-Maliki is close to appointing the rest of his Cabinet. "As we know, the pillars of progress move in parallel with each other," he said. "So as you have progress in the political front, it will lead to progress in the security front and then progress in the economic front."

The decision also doesn't cancel the 2nd Brigade's deployment, but puts it temporarily on hold until a final decision is made, Whitman said.

Meantime, Multi-National Force-Iraq released 299 male detainees from coalition-run Theater Internment Facilities May 7. The CRRB was established in August 2004 and consists of members from the Ministries of Human Rights, Justice and Interior, as well as officers from the Multi-National Forces. To date, the board has reviewed the cases of more than 36,700 detainees, recommending more than 18,750 individuals for release.