BAGHDAD, Oct 1, SPA -- The U.S. military released about 500Iraqi detainees from the notorious Abu Ghraib prison onSaturday, completing its plan to free a total of more than1,000 this week in honor of the Muslim holy month ofRamadan. The move began Monday with the release of more than 500other detainees at Abu Ghraib prison, which gainedinternational notoriety after a number of U.S. militarypersonnel were charged with humiliating and assaultingdetainees at the facility. This week, U.S. Army Pfc. Lynndie England, 22, wassentenced to three years behind bars for taking part indetainee abuse there. Her sentencing wrapped up the last ofnine courts-martial of low-level soldiers charged in thescandal, which severely damaged America's image in theMuslim world and tarnished the U.S. military at home andabroad, The Associated Press reported. On Saturday, the 500 detainees dressed in dishdashas, ortraditional white Arab robes, each lined up before U.S.soldiers at the prison to sign a document on their release,receive US$25 in cash and board buses taking them home orthe locations where they were first detained. Some carried copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book.Others had photographs of members of their families thatthey had kept with them while in prison. "We worked with the Iraqi government to release detaineeswho weren't guilty of any serious crimes in a move timed tohonor the holy month Ramadan," said Lt. Col. Guy Rudisill,spokesman for the U.S. military unit that runs the prison. The U.S. government says it only releases detainees whoare not guilty of serious, violent crimes _ such asbombing, torture, kidnapping, or murder _ and who have hadadmitted their crimes, renounced violence, "and pledged tobe good citizens of a democratic Iraq."1121 Local Time 0821 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/293372