¡¡¡¡YANGON, January 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The Myanmar government on Wednesday released five more political prisoners, of whom four aremembers of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), said an official statement.

¡¡¡¡They were identified as U Tin Maung Kyi, U Kyaw Min, U Kyi Lwinand U Tin Maung. The remaining one is U Cho Aung Than, cousin of NLD General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi.

¡¡¡¡All of the five were freed from "various correctional facilities," the release said.

¡¡¡¡It was the first batch of political prisoners released since the beginning of this year amid confidence-building dialogue between the government and the NLD initiated in October 2000 and the release has brought the total number of the NLD's political prisoners freed in the country to 207 since January 2001, it added.

¡¡¡¡Meanwhile, the NLD, which was the winner in the 1990 general election, demands the government to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners in the country and guarantee the rights of free activities for all legal political parties.Enditem

¡¡¡¡