Vietnam has released nearly 9,000 prisoners, including 10 inmates whose cases it says had drawn international attention, as part of traditional pardons granted ahead of independence celebrations on September 2.
Foreign ministry officials told a news conference the release of the 8,611 prisoners reflected their "good rehabilitation records" and the "humane tradition" of Vietnam.
Fifty-one foreigners were among those released.
"For some cases for which many countries have expressed their concern, on this occasion 10 will be released or receive commutation," said Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang.
Diplomats who saw the list of the 10 said they recognised only a few names - including those of Nguyen Ha Hai and Ho Van Trong, members of a dissident Hoa Hao Buddhist sect. The list said Hai died on June 14, 2004, two weeks after his release.
Bang, a former envoy to Washington, repeated Hanoi's refrain that "in Vietnam there are no prisoners of conscience, no dissidents, no one convicted and put into prison related to human rights".
Of the foreigners to be released, 28 are from northern neighbour China, 13 from Laos, six from Cambodia, three from Australia and one from Japan. Their offences included spying and breaching Vietnam's national security laws.
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