Political prisoner set free

Myanmar's ruling junta released the deputy leader of the country's pro-democracy party from nearly seven years in detention, but offered no indication that he or still-detained party leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be allowed to take part in this year's elections.

The release of 82-year-old Tin Oo, who helped found the National League for Democracy with Suu Kyi, comes shortly before a UN envoy visits Myanmar to evaluate the regime's progress on human rights.