text: Myanmar's President Thein Sein waves as he arrives at Yangon International Airport after returning from the U.S. May 22, 2013. 
   
   YANGONMyanmar's government is releasing another 73 political prisoners and more could be freed in coming months to honor a commitment made by the president during a recent trip to Europe, a member of a government body looking into the process said on Tuesday. 
   
   President Thein Sein, a former general now heading a quasi-civilian government, has pushed through a series of political and economic reforms since a military government stepped aside in 2011. 
   
   He has freed hundreds of political detainees and promised in a speech in Britain last week to free all those still in prison by the end of this year. 
   
   "A total of 73 political prisoners are being released from various detention centers today," Hla Maung Shwe, a member of the Committee to Scrutinise Remaining Political Prisoners, told Reuters. 
   
   "The total number of remaining political prisoners has now dropped to lower than 100 for the first time in many years." 
   
   The government, embassies and other groups have different figures for the number of political detainees. 
   
   The military junta, and even Thein Sein's government in the past, rejected the term, but he set up the committee to examine the issue and decide which prisoners were inside for criminal acts and those there for political reasons. 
   
   The 19-member committee comprises 10 former political prisoners, six people appointed by the government and three mediators, including Hla Maung Shwe. 
   
   "The committee meets once a month and we expect the remaining political prisoners will be freed by the end of this year as the president said during his recent visit to Europe," Hla Maung Shwe added. 
   
   An official at the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, a pro-democracy activist group, confirmed the release of several dozen political prisoners, but said the group was still collecting names. 
   
   (Editing by Alan Raybould and Ron Popeski) ||||| Myanmar started releasing nearly 70 political prisoners Tuesday, just days after the president promised during a European tour to free all who remain behind bars by the end of the year. 
   
   The continued incarceration of prisoners of conscience in Myanmar, which is in the process of opening up following decades of isolation and brutal military rule, has been a key concern of the United States and other Western nations. 
   
   Around 200 were believed to be behind bars before Tuesday's releases began. 
   
   Activists have accused President Thein Sein's government of only releasing political prisoners in small batches and usually for public relations purposes. 
   
   At the same time, said Anna Roberts, executive director of Burma Campaign UK, scores of peaceful protesters continue to be arrested, tried and convicted. 
   
   "It's welcome when political prisoners are being released, but it's important to remember that many still remain in prison and all the repressive laws that put them there are still in place," she said. 
   
   Last month alone, the group said 70 new activists were facing trial. 
   
   Ye Aung, a member of the government's political prisoner scrutiny committee, said in total 69 persons were released from various prisons across the country on Tuesday. 
   
   Some were seen by The Associated Press as the gates of the jails opened.
target: – Following up on a promise made while in Europe, Burma's president is reportedly setting 73 political prisoners free today, adding to hundreds already let go. "The total number of remaining political prisoners has now dropped to lower than 100 for the first time in many years," says an official. President Thein Sein has pledged to release all the country's political prisoners by year's end. Different organizations offer different figures as to how many remain, Reuters notes; the AP puts the number at around 200 before today's releases, with 69 released today, according to an official. The country has a 19-member committee to determine which prisoners are in jail over politics and which have committed non-political crimes. The committee includes 10 ex-political prisoners. But activists say the president is releasing people too slowly and for image reasons—and protesters are still getting arrested. "It's important to remember that many still remain in prison and all the repressive laws that put them there are still in place," notes one.