27 August 2005 -- The U.S. military said today that some 1,000 detainees at the Abu Ghurayb prison in Iraq have been released over the past three days.
The military said in a statement that the detainees represented different Iraqi communities.
The statement said they have been brought to Abu Ghurayb -- which is operated by the U.S. Army -- from different detention centers throughout Iraq ahead of their release.
It said that those chosen for release "are not guilty of serious, violent crimes such as bombing, torture, kidnapping, or murder."
The prisoners' release comes as a deadlock continues on Iraq's constitution draft.
Shiite and Kurdish negotiators said yesterday they have offered their final compromise proposal on the draft.
Sunni Arab negotiators are quoted as rejecting the latest draft.
If no deal is reached to win Sunni endorsement, Shi'ites and Kurds are expected to put their constitutional draft forward for approval by Iraqi voters in a 15 October referendum.
(Reuters/AFP/AP/dpa)
The statement said they have been brought to Abu Ghurayb -- which is operated by the U.S. Army -- from different detention centers throughout Iraq ahead of their release.
It said that those chosen for release "are not guilty of serious, violent crimes such as bombing, torture, kidnapping, or murder."
The prisoners' release comes as a deadlock continues on Iraq's constitution draft.
Shiite and Kurdish negotiators said yesterday they have offered their final compromise proposal on the draft.
Sunni Arab negotiators are quoted as rejecting the latest draft.
If no deal is reached to win Sunni endorsement, Shi'ites and Kurds are expected to put their constitutional draft forward for approval by Iraqi voters in a 15 October referendum.
(Reuters/AFP/AP/dpa)