Myanmar's President Thein Sein waves as he arrives at Yangon International Airport after returning from the U.S. May 22, 2013. 
 
 YANGONMyanmar's government is releasing another 73 political prisoners and more could be freed in coming months to honor a commitment made by the president during a recent trip to Europe, a member of a government body looking into the process said on Tuesday. 
 
 President Thein Sein, a former general now heading a quasi-civilian government, has pushed through a series of political and economic reforms since a military government stepped aside in 2011. 
 
 He has freed hundreds of political detainees and promised in a speech in Britain last week to free all those still in prison by the end of this year. 
 
 "A total of 73 political prisoners are being released from various detention centers today," Hla Maung Shwe, a member of the Committee to Scrutinise Remaining Political Prisoners, told Reuters. 
 
 "The total number of remaining political prisoners has now dropped to lower than 100 for the first time in many years." 
 
 The government, embassies and other groups have different figures for the number of political detainees. 
 
 The military junta, and even Thein Sein's government in the past, rejected the term, but he set up the committee to examine the issue and decide which prisoners were inside for criminal acts and those there for political reasons. 
 
 The 19-member committee comprises 10 former political prisoners, six people appointed by the government and three mediators, including Hla Maung Shwe. 
 
 "The committee meets once a month and we expect the remaining political prisoners will be freed by the end of this year as the president said during his recent visit to Europe," Hla Maung Shwe added. 
 
 An official at the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, a pro-democracy activist group, confirmed the release of several dozen political prisoners, but said the group was still collecting names. 
 
 (Editing by Alan Raybould and Ron Popeski) ||||| Myanmar started releasing nearly 70 political prisoners Tuesday, just days after the president promised during a European tour to free all who remain behind bars by the end of the year. 
 
 The continued incarceration of prisoners of conscience in Myanmar, which is in the process of opening up following decades of isolation and brutal military rule, has been a key concern of the United States and other Western nations. 
 
 Around 200 were believed to be behind bars before Tuesday's releases began. 
 
 Activists have accused President Thein Sein's government of only releasing political prisoners in small batches and usually for public relations purposes. 
 
 At the same time, said Anna Roberts, executive director of Burma Campaign UK, scores of peaceful protesters continue to be arrested, tried and convicted. 
 
 "It's welcome when political prisoners are being released, but it's important to remember that many still remain in prison and all the repressive laws that put them there are still in place," she said. 
 
 Last month alone, the group said 70 new activists were facing trial. 
 
 Ye Aung, a member of the government's political prisoner scrutiny committee, said in total 69 persons were released from various prisons across the country on Tuesday. 
 
 Some were seen by The Associated Press as the gates of the jails opened. ||||| Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption US President Obama: "The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extinguished" 
 
 Burma is on a "remarkable journey" of reform that has much further to go, Barack Obama said as he made the first visit to the South East Asian nation by a serving US president. 
 
 A desire for change had been met by an agenda of reform, he said, and he was there to extend a "hand of friendship". 
 
 But, in a speech at Rangoon University, he urged Burmese people to accept Muslim Rohingyas after recent violence. 
 
 Crowds of people, some waving US flags, lined the streets as he arrived. 
 
 The visit was intended to show support for the reforms put in place by Thein Sein's government since the end of military rule in November 2010. 
 
 Activists have warned that the visit may be too hasty - political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts in border areas are unresolved. 
 
 On Monday another prisoner amnesty was announced, with about 50 of the 66 inmates freed reportedly political detainees. About 200 political prisoners remain behind bars, activists say. 
 
 'Flickers of progress' 
 
 Mr Obama spent about six hours in Burma and did not visit the capital, Nay Pyi Taw. 
 
 Campaigners are asking why such an important visit had to happen so soon, apparently before Mr Obama's people had secured any concessions from the Burmese government Perils of embracing Burma 
 
 The highlight of his visit was a speech at Rangoon University, which was at the heart of pro-democracy protests in 1988 that were violently suppressed by the military regime. 
 
 Addressing students, he said America would help to rebuild Burma's economy and could be a partner on its journey forward. 
 
 Referring to his 20 January 2009 inauguration speech in which he pledged the US would extend a hand to any country that was willing to unclench its fist, he said: "Today I've come to keep my promise and extend the hand of friendship. 
 
 "But this remarkable journey has just begun, and has much further to go. 
 
 Image caption Mr Obama toured Shwedagon Pagoda, in the heart of Rangoon 
 
 "Reforms launched from the top of society must meet the aspirations of citizens who form its foundation. The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extinguished." 
 
 He called for an end to communal violence between Muslims and Buddhists in the western state of Rakhine that has left more than 100,000 people displaced. They are mostly Muslim Rohingyas who are stateless and face severe discrimination in Burma. 
 
 Reform in Burma 7 Nov 2010 : First polls in 20 years 
 
 : First polls in 20 years 13 Nov: Aung San Suu Kyi freed from house arrest 
 
 Aung San Suu Kyi freed from house arrest 30 Mar 2011: Transfer of power to new government complete 
 
 Transfer of power to new government complete 19 Aug: Aung San Suu Kyi meets President Thein Sein 
 
 Aung San Suu Kyi meets President Thein Sein 13 Oct: New labour laws allowing unions passed 
 
 New labour laws allowing unions passed 23 Dec: Aung San Suu Kyi-led NLD registers as political party 
 
 Aung San Suu Kyi-led NLD registers as political party 13 Jan: Highest-profile political prisoners freed 
 
 Highest-profile political prisoners freed 1 April: NLD wins 43 out of 45 seats in polls, generally seen as fair 
 
 NLD wins 43 out of 45 seats in polls, generally seen as fair 23 April: EU suspends most sanctions for a year 
 
 EU suspends most sanctions for a year 29 May: Aung San Suu Kyi leaves Burma for the first time in 24 years, for a visit to Thailand 
 
 Aung San Suu Kyi leaves Burma for the first time in 24 years, for a visit to Thailand 9 July: NLD lawmakers take their seats in parliament Timeline: Reforms in Burma In pictures: Obama in Burma Displaced in Rakhine 
 
 "National reconciliation will take time, but for the sake of our common humanity, and for the sake of this country's future, it is necessary to stop the incitement and to stop violence," he said. 
 
 Earlier Mr Obama met Thein Sein, saying the reform process "here in Myanmar... is one that can lead to incredible development opportunities". 
 
 He used the country name preferred by the government - US officials described the move as a "diplomatic courtesy" but not a policy shift. 
 
 Obama then met pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the lakeside home where she spent years under house arrest. She thanked the US for its support but warned that difficult times could lie ahead. 
 
 "The most difficult time in any transition is when we think that success is in sight," she said, saying people should not be "lured by a mirage of success". 
 
 The US president and his team also made a brief stop at Shwedagon Pagoda, the Rangoon landmark that has been at the heart of many key moments in the country's history. 
 
 Mr Obama was accompanied by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - who was returning to Burma almost a year after her first visit. 
 
 Sanctions relaxed 
 
 Thein Sein's government came to power after widely criticised polls in November 2010 that saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government. 
 
 Since then - to the surprise of many - his administration has embarked on a reform process. Many - but not all - political prisoners have been freed, censorship has been relaxed and some economic reforms enacted. 
 
 Ms Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest shortly after the polls. Her NLD party, which boycotted the elections, has since rejoined the political process. It now has a small presence in parliament after a landslide win in by-elections deemed generally free and fair in April. 
 
 In response to the reforms, many Western nations have relaxed sanctions against Burma and begun a process of engagement. 
 
 But rights groups have cautioned against a rush to embrace the South East Asian nation, warning that political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts are unresolved. 
 
 After visiting Burma, Mr Obama headed to Cambodia to join a meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations, in a trip that underlines the shift in US foreign policy focus to the Asia-Pacific region.
– Following up on a promise made while in Europe, Burma's president is reportedly setting 73 political prisoners free today, adding to hundreds already let go. "The total number of remaining political prisoners has now dropped to lower than 100 for the first time in many years," says an official. President Thein Sein has pledged to release all the country's political prisoners by year's end. Different organizations offer different figures as to how many remain, Reuters notes; the AP puts the number at around 200 before today's releases, with 69 released today, according to an official. The country has a 19-member committee to determine which prisoners are in jail over politics and which have committed non-political crimes. The committee includes 10 ex-political prisoners. But activists say the president is releasing people too slowly and for image reasons—and protesters are still getting arrested. "It's important to remember that many still remain in prison and all the repressive laws that put them there are still in place," notes one.