Myanmar's military government has released 21 prisoners, including prominent academic Salai Tun Than and 12 members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), it said in a statement Sunday.

The announcement comes ahead of this week's one-year anniversary of the junta's release of NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi from 19 months of house arrest.

"The government of Myanmar commuted the sentences and released 18 prisoners today and three last week, totalling 21, taking consideration of health and humanitarian concerns," the junta said.

"The releases are the latest in a series of efforts by the government to move Myanmar closer to multiparty democracy and national reconciliation," it said, in a likely bid to appease growing frustration over its lack of reform.

Aung San Suu Kyi began secret talks with the junta aimed at reconciliation in October 2000, but a political dialogue has yet to begin. International patience with the regime is wearing thin, while late last month Aung San Suu Kyi herself complained publicly for the first time over the stalled talks.