DUBAI, 11 November 2004 — The new president of the United Arab Emirates has pardoned 512 prisoners to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, local media reported yesterday.

The source said Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan also ordered the arrangement of $557,000 to settle financial obligations of the prisoners.

The Ministry of Presidential Affairs said the gesture was meant to enable the prisoners start a normal life.

It is customary among Muslim leaders to pardon prisoners during Ramadan.