Syria regime releases hundreds of prisoners

The Syrian government released hundreds of prisoners as part of a general amnesty granted by President Bashar Assad in celebration of his reelection this week, according to opposition and government sources.

The Syrian state news agency SANA reported that 320 prisoners were released Thursday from Central Aleppo Prison "based on directives by President Bashar Assad."

The prison, about five miles north of Aleppo near a vital supply route for fighters in rebel-controlled areas of Aleppo province, held 3500 detainees and was the site of fierce battles between forces loyal to President Assad and rebel factions. A year-long siege of the prison by rebel fighters was broken late last month.

Activists in the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition U.K.-based watchdog, confirmed the release.

http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-syria-prisoner-release-20140607-story.html