The Iraqi government is planning a prisoner release as part of their national reconciliation program, an aide to Prime Minister Maliki reported on Monday, one day after the American ambassador publicly indicated support for amnesty.

"A general amnesty is expected to be announced by the Iraqi government as part of its plans for national reconciliation and in a way that guarantees that pardoned prisoners do not return to crime," MP Hassan al-Saneed from the Shiite United Iraqi Coalition (UIC), who is also Maliki's adviser, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

These comments come one day after Washington's ambassador to Iraq hinted that the United States would support an amnesty program.

"As part of a political reconciliation process, amnesty can be very important," Ambassador Ryan Crocker said from Baghdad, in an interview with Fox News.

"It can also be important in this particular context as we seek to draw as many elements as we can away from the fight ... against us and into the fight against a common enemy, Al-Qaeda.

"In terms of individual cases involving people who have American blood on their hands, that is something we have to consider very carefully."

According to al-Saneed, the Iraqi government has developed a new strategy that aims to stimulate greater political participation and open dialogue with armed groups that have expressed interest in joining the political process.

The new strategy will also propose a cabinet reshuffle involving ministries that have direct contact with the public and amendments to Baghdad's security plan, and will discuss Iraq's relations with its neighbors, national security and the issue of borders, al-Saneed added.