New York  - The government of Myanmar should release all political prisoners after deciding to set free several of them this week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday.

Among those released was U Win Tin, who spent 19 years in jail, and six members of the National League for Democracy, which is headed by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi has been put under house arrest for more than 10 years by Myanmar's military government for challenging the military leaders to undertake democratic reforms. The UN has been calling for her release to no avail.

Ban renewed his demand in a statement that "all political prisoners should be released and that all citizens of Myanmar should be able to enjoy political freedoms, as necessary steps towards the process of national reconciliation and dialogue."

"I look forward to any further action by the Myanmar government in this regard," Ban said. (dpa)