US seeks to block Afghan prisoner release

US officials are seeking to block a move by an Afghan panel to free 88 detainees from a prison north of Kabul the Americans say would pose a security threat if released.
Spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan, Col Dave Lapan, says the Afghan panel "exceeded its mandate" in ordering the release of 650 detainees from Parwan Detention Facility earlier this week.
Already, 562 of the prisoners have been freed while the 88 the United States has issues with remain behind bars.
Lapan said on Wednesday that the 88 "are legitimate threats for whom there is strong evidence supporting prosecution or further investigation."

The US turned over control of the Parwan, located near the US-run Bagram military base north of Kabul, to Afghan authorities last March.