With garlands and flowers, hundreds of friends and relatives gathered outside a prison in Myanmar's capital to welcome the return of two political prisoners.

Yan Naing Tun and Aung Min Naing were released as part of a year end amnesty, with more prisoners expected to be freed later in the day.

(SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) RELEASED POLITICAL PRISONER, YAN NAING TUN SAYING:

"Even though they (the government) said this is amnesty, this is not amnesty for us. They are trying to hide the weakness of the legislature by doing this. But I respect Mr President since he kept his promise because he had not ever kept his promise before."

It is not clear how many prisoners will be released or how many political prisoners are in the country.

During the military's final years in power, as many as 2,500 people, including activists, journalists, and even comedians were under detention.

Many of these prisoners were subjected to torture and other inhumane treatment.

Mya