Myanmar announces new prisoner amnesty, President Obama to visit

<p>A Myanmar prisoner, center, is welcomed by her relative outside Insein prison in Yangon, Myanmar after the political prisoners were released Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. Myanmar reformist government ordered more than 450 prisoners freed Thursday in an amnesty apparently intended as a goodwill gesture ahead of an historic visit by President Barack Obama next week. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)</p>

Khin Maung Win

A Myanmar prisoner, center, is welcomed by her relative outside Insein prison in Yangon, Myanmar after the political prisoners were released Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. Myanmar reformist government ordered more than 450 prisoners freed Thursday in an amnesty apparently intended as a goodwill gesture ahead of an historic visit by President Barack Obama next week. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)

By The Associated Press

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar’s leader has ordered a new prisoner amnesty ahead of a historic visit to the country by President Obama on Monday.

State television said Sunday that President Thein Sein had ordered 66 detainees released, but it was not clear whether any political prisoners would be among them.

A Home Ministry official said that Thein Sein signed the amnesty order Friday, but the prisoners will be freed Monday. The presidential amnesty was the second announced this week.