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Burma to free hundreds of prisoners before Obama visit Burma to free hundreds of prisoners before Obama visit
(35 minutes later)
The Burmese authorities say that 452 prisoners will be released in a goodwill gesture, days ahead of a visit by US President Barack Obama. Burma is releasing 452 prisoners under an amnesty, officials say, days before a visit by US President Barack Obama.
Political dissidents could be among those freed, but it is not clear how many. The release, which could include political detainees, is to "help promote goodwill and the bilateral relationship", state media report.
Human rights groups say there are around 300 political prisoners. The move is the latest in a series of prisoner releases under the reformist government of President Thein Sein.
Mr Obama's visit, the first by a serving US president, is intended to encourage the government to continue a reform programme begun last year. Mr Obama's visit, a first by a serving US president, is intended to encourage continued government reform.
Previous amnesties have included many non-political prisoners. It remains unclear, however, how many political prisoners will be freed this time. Rights groups believe that there are still at least 300 political prisoners in jail.
Some foreign nationals were among those due to be released in the latest amnesty, state media said. Some foreign nationals are also among those expected to be released in the amnesty, state media say.
An amnesty in September saw the release of more than 500 prisoners, with the opposition saying that at least 58 political detainees were freed.
Continuing impunityContinuing impunity
The military-led government's reforms have included abolishing pre-publication censorship and passing a law allowing peaceful protest. The nominally-civilian government led by Thein Sein has undertaken a series of reforms since the end of military rule in elections in November 2010.
The opposition National League for Democracy participated in parliamentary by-elections earlier this year, and swept the board. These include freeing hundreds of prisoners, including political detainees, and introducing more press freedom. Western sanctions against Burma have been loosened in response.
Countries which previously had imposed sanctions on Burma have been offering deals on aid and increased trade links in response to the reforms. Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy party - having rejoined the political process after boycotting the November 2010 polls - overwhelmingly swept parliamentary by-elections earlier this year.
However, Mr Obama's decision to make Burma one of his first destinations after being re-elected is being questioned by some critics, who say it is too soon to reward the government for reforms which have just started, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok. However, critics question Mr Obama's decision to make Burma one of his first destinations after re-election, saying it is too soon to reward the government for reforms which have just started, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says.
They argue that the repeated promises by President Thein Sein that he will stick to the reformist path will only be credible when all political prisoners have been freed, our correspondent reports. They argue that the repeated promises by Thein Sein that he will stick to the reformist path will only be credible when all political prisoners have been freed, our correspondent adds.
Dozens more people have been detained this year during various protests, and the Burmese military still acts with impunity in border areas where it is fighting ethnic insurgents, he adds. Dozens more people have been detained this year during various protests, and the Burmese military still acts with impunity in border areas where it is fighting ethnic insurgents, says our correspondent.
On a visit to India earlier this week, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi sounded a note of caution over the reform process, saying Burma had "not yet achieved the goal of democracy". On her visit to India this week, Ms Suu Kyi sounded a note of caution over the reform process, saying Burma had "not yet achieved the goal of democracy".