Burma freed many of its most prominent political prisoners today in a long-awaited step toward national reconciliation that also has been a key condition set by Western nations for easing sanctions against the country.

The UN secretary-general has urged Burma’s military government and its main pro-democracy party to reach an agreement under which the opposition party – led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi – will attend a constitution-drafting convention.

A UN envoy visiting Myanmar to secure the release of Aung Saan Suu Kyi will meet the head of the ruling junta today, an aide to the envoy said, in what may be a final bid to see the detained Nobel laureate.