Myanmar to Free More Prisoners

Myanmar says it is preparing to release prisoners for the second time in just over a month.

A senior official said on November 13 that political detainees would be among those amnestied and that the decision would be carried out "very soon."

Myanmar's new civilian government has freed 230 political prisoners since taking office in March.

Western countries have welcomed the move as sign the former generals in power may be easing their tight control after five decades of military rule.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on November 11 that Myanmar appeared to be making "real changes." She said if all political prisoners were freed and reforms introduced, the United States was willing to become its "partner."

Myanmar's most famous political detainee, Aung San Suu Kyi, was freed from detention -- where she'd spent some 15 years in total -- in November 2010, less than a week after national elections.

compiled from Reuters reports