Baghdad: A group of Iraqi security officers arrested last week initially accused of plotting a coup and then on suspicion of links to terrorists were freed today, an interior ministry source told AFP.
"They were freed today, they are all at liberty," said the official. "The officers signed a pledge to turn up if they are summoned again."
Officials had said that 24 Iraqi security personnel from the defence and interior ministries were arrested on Thursday, although the source said 23 were freed today.
Security officials initially said they were suspected of plotting a coup against the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki aimed at bringing the Baath party of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein back to power.
But officials later said they were accused of aiding terrorism and Maliki himself denied there had been a coup plot.
Some press reports suggested that the operation could have been launched by Maliki to weaken his rivals before the January 31 provincial election.
