THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

WASHINGTON - The U.S. State Department is expressing concern that the release of five Iranian officials suspected of aiding Shiite insurgents in Iraq could present a security threat to American troops there.

Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters that the U.S. released the five to the Iraqi government because it was obliged to do so under a U.S.-Iraqi security agreement that took effect several months ago.

Kelly said the release was not part of a deal or prisoner exchange with Tehran.

He described the five Iranians as being "associated with" the Quds force, an element of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. U.S. officials believe the five were involved in training Iraqi militants.

Kelly said Thursday the possibility of the five creating further security problems in Iraq was "a big concern."