US military releases 1,000 from Abu Ghraib prison

The US military has released 1,000 prisoners from Abu Ghraib jail after Iraqi authorities requested they be set free.

The move, the largest prisoner release to date, followed appeals by Sunni representatives at the constitutional talks to start releasing thousands who have been languishing in the jail for months without being charged.

After meeting President Jalal Talabani on Thursday, Sunni negotiator Saleh al-Mutlaq said the president agreed to release many detainees before the October referendum on the constitution.