[JURIST] Over the past three days, some 1,000 detainees have been released from Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison [JURIST news archive] in the largest release to date, the US military announced [press release] Saturday. According to Central Command, the release "marks a significant event in Iraq’s progress toward democratic governance and the rule of law." Those chosen for release are not guilty of violent crimes and have all renounced violence and pledged to be good citizens of a democratic Iraq. The prisoner release may be connected to a Sunni demand that Sunni prisoners be freed to participate in a referendum on the text of the Iraqi constitution [JURIST news archive], although a US military spokesman would not verify this. Reuters has more.