Political inmates freed as Burma reforms progress

BURMA freed some of its most famous political inmates, sparking jubilation outside prison gates and signalling its readiness to meet Western demands for lifting economic sanctions.

Prominent political activists, leaders of brutally repressed democratic uprisings, a former prime minister, ethnic minority leaders, journalists and relatives of the former dictator Ne Win were among those released.

State media described the presidential pardon freeing 651 detainees as allowing them to take part in “nation-building”.