(UPDATE) BANGKOK: Myanmar's ruling military council said on Wednesday it was releasing more than 2,100 political prisoners as a humanitarian gesture. But thousands more remain jailed on charges generally involving nonviolent protests or criticism of military rule that began when the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi two years ago.

State-run television network MRTV reported that Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who heads the council, had pardoned 2,153 prisoners on the most important Buddhist holy day of the year, which marked the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.