BANGKOK - PRESS watchdogs on Wednesday said they were 'immensely relieved' by the release of Myanmar's longest-serving political prisoner as part of an amnesty for more than 9,000 inmates.

Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association hailed the Tuesday release of Mr Win Tin, a 79-year-old journalist and prominent dissident who had been held in Yangon's feared Insein prison since 1989.

'We worked together to defend Mr Win Tin's innocence and we are immensely relieved that he has finally been freed,' the press freedom organisations said in a joint statement.

'We hope other journalists and prisoners of conscience will also be freed and that Mr Win Tin will be able to resume his peaceful struggle for press freedom and democracy in Burma,' they added, using Myanmar's former name.

Mr Win Tin was among seven dissidents confirmed to have been released as part of the amnesty, in which Myanmar state media said 9,002 prisoners would be freed so they could take part in elections promised by the ruling generals for 2010.

The move also comes on the one year anniversary of massive anti-junta protests.

Mr Win Tin was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on Jul 4, 1989 for acting as an advisor to democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and writing letters to the then-United Nations envoy to Myanmar.

Upon his release on Tuesday Mr Win Tin, still dressed in a blue prison-issued outfit, vowed to journalists that he would continue to fight the ruling generals. His release was also hailed by the US and the UN.

Regional media watchdog the Southeast Asian Press Alliance also welcomed the dissident's release.

'We are heartened by initial news that his spirit to fight for democracy remains unbroken,' the group's director Roby Alampay said in a statement.

Other dissidents confirmed released on Tuesday were Mr Aye Thein, Mr Khin Maung Swe, Major Win Htein, Mr Than Nyein, Mr Aung Soe Myint and Mr May Win Myint.

Human rights groups estimate that about 2,000 political prisoners are locked away in Myanmar, including the country's most prominent dissident, Nobel laureaute Aung San Suu Kyi who has been detained for most of the last 19 years. -- AFP