US and Iraqi officials say four prisoners with links to Al-Qaida have escaped from the US-controlled part of a prison in Baghdad. An Iraqi military spokesman, Major General Qassim al-Moussawi, told the Associated Press that the Americans informed them on Thursday morning that four Iraqis being held by the US had broken out of Karkh Prison. He said the men were linked to Al-Qaida and facing the death penalty.An American military spokesman, Colonel Barry Johnson, confirmed there was an escape, but provided no details. The US has handed over control of all prisons that it used to run to Iraqi authorities but at the Iraqis request, the US continues to run a small section of Karkh Prison where it maintains custody of over 200 prisoners.