Saudi Arabia's newly installed King Abdullah has pardoned five activists, state television reported.
Those pardoned included three sentenced for up to nine years in jail for calling for political reforms. Their sentencing had drawn rare public criticism of Saudi Arabia by Washington.
"Interior Minister Prince Nayef announced that King Abdullah has pardoned and ordered the release of prisoners Abdullah al-Hamed, Matruk al-Faleh, Ali al-Dumaini and Saeed ibn Zuair and the release of detained Abdulrahman al-Lahem," state television said.
Mr Hamed, Mr Matruk and Mr Dumaini were sentenced in May on charges including trying to sow dissent. A Saudi court last month upheld the jail sentences of six to nine years. The men - two university lecturers and a poet - had organised a petition calling for the kingdom to move towards a constitutional monarchy.
Mr Lahem, their lawyer, was arrested after publicising their appeal for help last year.
Mr Zuair was jailed after voicing support for militant attacks in Saudi Arabia, which has been battling a two-year al-Qaeda campaign of violence, activists said.
Earlier yesterday, King Abdullah, who has championed modest reform, pardoned several Libyans held over a suspected plot to assassinate him in 2003.
Saudi reformists welcomed the pardons but said more serious steps needed to be taken. It was the first amnesty by King Abdullah, who came to power last week after King Fahd died.