BAGHDAD, Sept 30 (AFP) - The US military on Thursday released 180 detainees from Baghdad's notorious Abu Ghraib prison, according to the US-Iraqi commission in charge of releases.
"About 180 detainees were released September 30 as a result of deliberations by the combined review and release board," said a statement from the commission.
Since it was set up in August, the board -- which includes six Iraqi officials and three veto-holding coalition officials -- has reviewed some 1,800 cases, around a third of which have resulted in releases.
"About 1,700 security internees remain at the Abu Ghraib detention facility, and 3,500 at Camp Bucca detention facility near Umm Qasr" in southern Iraq, the statement continued.
The US military has released thousands of detainees from Abu Ghraib since revelations emerged of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners last year, with overcrowding cited as a reason for the prison's lawless atmosphere.
Seven prison guards have been charged in connection with abuse at the prison, two of them have been convicted with up to 45 military personnel expected to face court martial.