Myanmar frees 514 prisoners, including foreigners

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar's government says it has granted amnesties for 514 prisoners, including some foreigners, on humanitarian grounds.

The announcement Monday by the Information Ministry did not identify the prisoners, so it was unclear if any political detainees were among them.

The government of President Thein Sein has made freedom for political prisoners a centerpiece of its reform policies.

Earlier amnesties helped convince Western nations to ease sanctions they had imposed against the previous military-led regime.

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party has estimated that about 330 political detainees remain jailed, while other activists say the total may be at least 100 more. — AFP