Bahrain begins freeing political prisoners

Bahrain began freeing political prisoners on Wednesday, including 23 accused of seeking to overthrow the kingdom's Sunni Muslim monarchy, a Shiite opposition lawmaker said.

"It is a positive move," Ibrahim Mattar, of the Wefaq party, told Reuters, saying more than 100 prisoners had been released before dawn, but dozens remained in jail. Those released included 21 common criminals, he said. (Reuters)