The US army revealed today that it had released more than 5,000 Iraqi prisoners since the start of this year, in line with a security accord signed between Baghdad and Washington. "Since January, 1,179 detainees have been transferred to the government of Iraq with a valid warrant or detention order, and 5,236 have been released," a statement said. The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed between Iraq and the United States last November requires the files of all detainees in American custody be handed over to the Iraqi authorities, who can then decide their fate. In total, 8,947 people remain under detention in three prisons run by US forces at Camp Cropper and Camp Taji, which are in and around Baghdad, and Camp Bucca, which is in southern Iraq, the statement said.