Burma prisoners taste freedom

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

The releases began a day after President Thein Sein issued an amnesty for 6,359 prisoners.

The freedom of political detainees had been eagerly awaited as a major gesture by the new elected government to show its dedication to liberalisation after decades of harsh military rule.

A complete list of those freed is not yet public, but relatives were able to confirm the release of at least some of the country’s estimated 2,000 political prisoners.

However, the sister of famous former student leader Min Ko Naing was told he was not on the list of those to be freed.