Excited families greeted relatives released from Myanmar’s Insein Prison on Thursday as part of a mass amnesty granted by the country’s military rulers ahead of next month’s election. At least eight buses carrying prisoners were welcomed outside the gate of the Yangon prison at 11.30 am by relatives and friends who had been waiting since early morning.

The military administration granted amnesty to more than 3000 people locked up for opposing army rule and dropped charges against more than 5500 others, state-run broadcaster MRTV reported. The amnesty was intended to ensure eligible voters could participate in the December 28 elections, it said.