Rangoon - The UN human rights envoy, Mr Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, arrived in Burma yesterday for a 12-day mission which the ruling junta marked by releasing five top political prisoners.
Describing the move as a "goodwill gesture by the government", the authorities said the five elected MPs from Aung San Suu Kyi's democratic opposition were all in good health. The release brings to 174 the number of National League for Democracy (NLD) members freed this year.