The Burmese government says it has released nearly 60 elderly and female prisoners for humanitarian reasons.
A statement from the military government says the former prisoners, including nine people older than 65 and women who are either pregnant or have young children, are safely at home in good health. The statement did not say whether they were political prisoners.
Earlier this month, United Nations human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro was in Rangoon and urged Burma's government to release the estimated 1300 political prisoners still behind bars.
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.