[SOT/]ON FRIDAY, FORMER MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR DEFIANTLY RESPONDED TO CRITICS--WHO QUESTIONED THE PARDONS OR CLEMENCY BARBOUR GRANTED TO SOME 200 PEOPLE--DURING HIS FINAL DAYS IN OFFICE.(Barbour)"That I endangered public safety by releasing 10 people. I would say that, I would say that people like you gave people the impression we released hundreds of people."DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE--BARBOUR GAVE "FULL, COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL" PARDONS TO 203 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 17 CONVICTED OF MURDER, 10 CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER, EIGHT CONVICTED OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND FIVE CONVICTED OF DRUNKEN-DRIVING INCIDENTS THAT CAUSED DEATHS. BARBOUR SAYS 189 OF THE PEOPLE WHO GOT PARDONS OR OTHER REPRIEVES HAD ALREADY BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON BEFORE HIS INVOLVEMENT... HE CLAIMS ONLY 10 HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE FULLY RELEASED FROM PRISON...SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH EXPENSIVE, CHRONIC CONDITIONS ARE RECEIVING MEDICAL LEAVE. HE SAYS HE REGRETS NOT PROVIDING MORE DETAILS AT THE TIME.BARBOUR REITERATED A WELL-KNOWN TRADITION...IN MISSISSIPPI IT'S COMMON FOR GOVERNORS TO FREE THE TRUSTIES WHO WORKED AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION. HE SAYS HE'S NOT CONCERNED THE FREED TRUSTIES MIGHT HARM SOMEONE.(Barbour)"I've watched them work to try to better themselves so that when they get out and get a second chance. They all knew when they came there that if they accepted this and if they successfully completed my term. They'd be pardoned."EARLIER THIS WEEK, CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS PUT THE PARDONS OR REPRIEVES FOR 21 INMATES ON HOLD...A LEGAL BATTLE IS BREWING OVER WHETHER BARBOUR PROPERLY HANDLED THE INMATES ORDERS TO GO FREE. -------------------------ASSOCIATED PRESS.(****END****) VIDEO SOURCE: WJTV-----------------------VIDEO RESTRICTIONS: Market Embargoes: Request that courtesy be embedded in all video we use. Holding off on USTV feed----------------------------------