Myanmar frees former president

Win Myint, a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, had been detained since the military coup in February 2021 that ousted the country's civilian government.

The junta's amnesty included over 4,000 prisoners, but human rights groups caution that hundreds of other political detainees remain behind bars.

Suu Kyi, who is 80 years old, still faces a lengthy prison term for a series of convictions that her supporters maintain were politically motivated.

The partial reduction in her sentence is viewed by analysts as a potential attempt by the military to ease international pressure as the country continues to grapple with internal conflict and economic instability.