Opposition prisoners freed in Burma

Aung San Suu Kyi has been in negotiations with the military

The military government in Burma has freed a further 11 political prisoners, associated with the opposition National League for Democracy.

The releases came on the eve of Martyr's Day on Thursday, which marks the anniversary of the 1947 assassination of Aung San, the father of the opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

They have been welcomed as a sign of possible progress in continuing talks between the opposition and the government.

Among those freed were a prominent journalist, San San Nwe, and a noted writer and opposition member of parliament, Aung Khin Sint.

Many still imprisoned

According to an official statement all 11 are "all in good health".

Their release brings the total number of activists freed from prison over the past week to 20, but human rights activists say there are still over 1,800 political prisoners in Burma.

"Most of those released today were arrested between 1996 and 1997 and have been detained at Insein prison and prisons in Thayet, Magwe Division in central Myanmar," an NLD official said on condition of anonymity.

Critical of government

San San Nwe is a former journalist and novelist who was sentenced in August 1994 to 10 years in prison.

He had allegedly given information to foreign journalists and diplomats "against or critical of the government in order to make foreign governments misunderstand the government".

The human rights group, Amnesty International, and other organisations say she suffered from ill health in detention.

The releases are the latest in a series of conciliatory moves by Burma's military junta since it started closed-door political negotiations late last year with Aung San Suu Kyi, head of the NLD and the country's most prominent dissident.