BANGKOK, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Over 25,000 inmates across Thailand have received a royal pardon and will be released soon, Corrections Department Director-General Wanchai Rujanawong said Tuesday.

    A total of 85 inmates on death roll have also received a royal clemency and had their term reduced to life imprisonment, Wanchai was quoted by local news network The Nation as saying.

    Most of the inmates freed would have been serving a minor jail sentence of less than one year. Others, who are serving punishments for more severe crimes, will have their sentences commuted.

    The royal pardon is to mark the King's 80th birthday anniversary on Dec. 5, the report said.