Burma's military government has allowed foreign and local journalists a rare look inside a Burmese prison.
Government officials Monday allowed journalists from Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, China's state-run Xinhua news agency and six Burmese publications into the Mandalay prison.
The media were allowed in to cover the distribution of humanitarian aid to prisoners by the Union of Solidarity and Development Association. The state-sponsored organization has taken over work usually performed by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Burma's government halted Red Cross activities in the country two weeks ago.
The journalists report they were allowed to interview some of the prisoners, including two members of the opposition National League for Democracy. State officials say Mandalay prison holds 5771 prisoners, including 1002 women.