Kolkata, July 1 (TIWN) Myanmar's military junta has released more than 2,000 prisoners in the last two days in a possible effort to deflect growing global criticism.

Most of those released had been charged with incitement for joining anti-regime protests, according to the regime’s spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun.

“A total of 2,296 people have been released. They took part in protests, but not in leading roles. They didn’t participate in violent acts,” he told the Burmese media on Thursday.