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.

A government-appointed human rights body has appealed to the president to release prisoners who are not a threat to stability, Burmese state media reported.

Burma began releasing more then 6,300 prisoners today, but has held back on freeing some prominent political figures.

MYANMAR’S military government quashed a new protest yesterday by pro-democracy supporters in downtown Yangon, as activists said the protests spread to other parts of the country.