YANGON - A total of 73 more prisoners, including 68 political prisoners, were released from different prisons in Myanmar Tuesday under a fresh amnesty order by the government, local media reported. ?

The prisoners were freed days after President U Thein Sein returned from official visits to the United Kingdom and France.

The authorities in May freed 23 prisoners.

So far, a total of 29,764 prisoners are estimated to have been pardoned since the new civilian government took office on March 30, 2011.

United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon welcomed Tuesday the release of 73 political prisoners in Myanmar.

Ban also welcomed a recent statement by Myanmar President U Thein Sein that all political prisoners in the country will be released by the end of the year.

The UN chief hoped that such efforts will "further strengthen efforts toward a comprehensive nationwide cease-fire and national reconciliation in Myanmar," according to his spokesperson.

Myanmar freed a number of prisoners under a new amnesty order by the government. Over 29,000 prisoners are estimated to have been pardoned since the new civilian government took office on March 30, 2011.