The Myanmar government will free 6, 313 prisoners "with good conduct and discipline" from Saturday.

State radio and television announced that the prisoners were being released for the "social consideration of their families" and for general election scheduled for 2010, which is part of the government's seven-step roadmap to democracy.

The present amnesty came after the visits to Myanmar of two United Nations high-ranking officials recently including U.N. Special Envoy Ibriham Gambari and U.N. Human Rights Envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana.

Ibrahim Gambari said that he had not received any official communique from the government and was waiting to see how many of the prisoners were criminals and how many were political prisoners.

"I would like to see as many would, the composition of the people who have been released. You'll recall that following my previous visit in August, 9,200 prisoners were released an included about six of whom you would call political prisoners. At the same time I believe it's fair to welcome the release of prisoners, particularly political prisoners."

In last year's amnesty, 9,002 prisoners were released as a gesture of loving kindness and goodwill.