Burma's military junta has freed 14 political prisoners just days after opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called for the release of all dissidents as a precondition for national reconciliation.

Around 1,000 prisoners of conscience are estimated to remain behind bars in Burma. But hopes are rising that the two sides are moving closer to holding substantive talks.

The government will continue to release more individuals who will cause no harm to the community nor threaten the existing peace, stability and the unity of the nation

Government statement

The UN envoy to Burma, Razali Ismail, said earlier this week that he believed Aung San Suu Kyi and the ruling generals could progress to discussing political issues from their previous, confidence-building talks.

Aung San Suu Kyi said she was willing to talk to the military rulers of Burma - also known as Myanmar. But she has also demanded freedom for all dissidents in the country.

She was released from her latest period of house arrest in May and the government said six of the 14 released prisoners were members of her National League for Democracy.

It is estimated that 250 members of the NLD remain behind bars but the military junta said many of them could soon be free.

"The government of Myanmar will continue to release more individuals who will cause no harm to the community nor threaten the existing peace, stability and the unity of the nation," it said in a statement.

Signs of progress

The BBC's Burma analyst, Larry Jagan, says prisoner releases are the only evidence that the generals and opposition are making any progress in their secret dialogue.

He says more than 400 dissidents had been freed since the talks began nearly two years ago, adding that the latest releases were a clear response to demands that the military leadership show it is sincere in it commitment to democratic reform.

The remaining NLD activists should be freed in the next few months as part of the 500 or so political prisoners that the junta has told the UN envoy it would release, our correspondent says.

Analysts said the main factor pushing the Burmese government to talk to the opposition is its desire to see international sanctions eased and the return of aid and investment.

But there may be some delay while overseas nations wait to see if the reforms are genuine.

The party of Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide election victory in 1990 but the military has not let them take power.