Myanmar, Wednesday: The release of Myanmar's longest-serving political prisoner, 79 year-old journalist Win Tin, has been welcomed around the world. The United States and organisations such as Reporters Without Borders expressed their satisfaction at the move, but stressed that many more political prisoners remain in Burmese jails.

On Tuesday, Myanmar's military regime announced it was releasing 9,000 prisoners as a gesture of good will. The measure is also designed to pave the way for elections in 2010.

Opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy has confirmed that another six political prisoners have been freed. Ms Suu Kyi herself is not among them: she has been held under house arrest for years.