Egyptian authorities release 760 reformed extremists

Egyptian Minister of the Interior Lt. Gen. Habib al-Adli on Tuesday announced a decision freeing 760 Islamists who have "proven to be back as good citizens" and given up terrorist ideologies.

The police did not set the date for releasing the 760 Islamists.

The Egyptian daily al-Ahram reported that most of those prisoners belonged to the Islamic Group and al-Jihad organizations and that 450 of them are from Upper Egypt (al-Saed).

The daily added that those 760 Islamists are one of the largest "shifts" released in the framework of a policy pursued by the Minister of the Interior to release all who have proven they will be good citizens "and give up the ideology of terrorism."

The release come within the framework of the interior minister's policy of solving matters calmly, away from complications and within his power in keeping security and stopping terrorist operations before they take place.

Such releases often take place before religious holidays, and occasions as this recent operation did with the coming this month of the holy month of Ramadan.