Yangon - Myanmar'a junta announced an amnesty Friday for more than 6,000 prisoners, although it remained unclear how many political prisoners were included, Napyitaw radio reported Friday.

"For the humanitarian reasons, for the sake of the family members, to demonstrate the goodwill of the government and to be able to allow fair participation in the upcoming 2010 free and fair general election, Myanmar government will release 6,313 prisoners started from 21 February," the announcement said.

Yangon - Myanmar's human rights situation remains "challenging," United Nations Special Human Rights Envoy Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana concluded Thursday, winding up a six-day visit to the junta-ruled nation.

The junta refused to allow Quintana to meet with either Aung San Suu Kyi, the longstanding leader of the opposition, or Myanmar's junta chief Senior General Than Shwe during the trip.

"The human rights situation in Myanmar is still challenging," Quintana said shortly before departing the country late Thursday night.

Yangon  - Myanmar's military supremo Senior General Than Shwe met with Thailand's army-commander-in-chief who is on an official visit to discuss border issues and the Rohingya refugee problem, state media reports said Wednesday.

Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, met Thai Army Commander-ion-Chief General Anupong Paojinda and his "goodwill delegation" Tuesday at the Myanmar's military's new capital of Naypyitaw, 350 kilometres north of the former capital of Yangon, The New Light of Myanmar daily reported.

Kuala Lumpur  - A Myanmar refugee in Malaysia discovered three members of his family dead with stab wounds at their home in Kuala Lumpur, reports said Wednesday.

His 1-year-old daughter was spared by the killers, and found crying over her mother's body, the Star daily reported.

The victims, a 39-year old woman, her 7-year old daughter and their 22-year old relative, all UN-sponsored refugees, had been living in Malaysia for the past three years.

Yangon  - United Nations special human rights envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana visited Myanmar's junta headquarters of Naypyitaw Wednesday, for talks likely to concentrate on the country's estimated 2,100 political prisoners.

UN officials said it was not known which generals Quintana would meet in Naypyitaw, 350 kilometres north of Yangon. He is expected to at least meet with Prime Minister General Thein Sein, who also met with UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari on an official visit last month.

Yangon - United Nations special rapporteur for human rights, Tomas Ojea Quintana, was allowed to visit Yangon's notorious Insein prison Monday, security sources confirmed.

Quintana, who arrived in Myanmar Saturday, travelled to the Karen State on Sunday where he visited Hpa-An prison, where a 28 year-old Burmese blogger named Nay Phone Latt is serving a 20-year prison term, according to sources who asked for anonymity.

Upon his return to Yangon on Monday, Quintana met with foreign diplomats and then went to Insein prison, where hundreds of political prisoners of the military-ruled state are being held.