Jordan, Iraq mull nonpolitical prisoners swap

AMMAN, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Jordan has approached the Iraqi government with a proposal to swap nonpolitical prisoners, a top Iraqi diplomat in Amman told local daily Jordan Times Wednesday. It is suggested that prisoners from both sides, except those implicated in terror and political wrongdoing, will be extradited to home countries to serve the rest of jail terms, according to Iraqi ambassador to Jordan Saad Hayyani. "We will forward the suggestion to our government," said Hayyani, adding that both sides have been working on the issue for over a year. "There are around 40 to 50 Iraqi prisoners in Jordan who might be included in the agreement once it is put into effect," said the ambassador, adding that such a move would exempt Iraqis from the burden of traveling abroad to see their relatives in jail. Hayyani said once both... [read full story]