UN chief hails release of Myanmar dissidents

"The Secretary-General welcomes the release of a limited number of political prisoners as part of a larger amnesty," Ban's spokeswoman Michele Montas said.

Earlier Friday, Myanmar authorities freed two journalists who helped victims of last year's Cyclone Nargis and released several opposition activists as part of an amnesty for more than 7,000 prisoners, according to witnesses.

One of the freed journalists was Eint Khaing Oo, 28, who was arrested in 2008. This year she became the first recipient of an award set up in memory of a Japanese video reporter who was killed in monk-led protests in 2007.

The other journalist was Kyaw Kyaw Thant, who was arrested with her as they took a group of survivors of the May 2008 cyclone to the United Nations head offices in Yangon.