Iraq and Libya near exchange agreement

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and the Libyan Minister of Justice Khalifa Faraj Ashour discussed the exchange and release of prisoners during a meeting in the Iraqi capital (Baghdad) on Monday. Ashour and Zebari’s discussion at the office of the Foreign Ministry centered on the signing of the judicial agreement to coordinate the exchange of prisoners, according to an Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement, received by Arabstoday. "Both parties welcomed the return of full diplomatic relations between the two countries, finally after the Joint Iraqi-Libyan announcement," the statement read. The Libyan delegation, headed by Ashour, is currently visiting Baghdad. Earlier in June the Interior Ministry announced it was due to sign an agreement with Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt to exchange prisoners under the cover of the Arab League, excluding those sentenced to death. Prior to this the Libyan National Transitional Council announced it intended to sign an agreement with the Iraqi government, which allows Libyans sentenced to imprisonment to complete their sentences in their own country. Iraq has also promised not to carry out the death sentence against prisoners convicted in Baghdad.