Myanmar opposition skeptical of government's amnesty claim

Myanmar's pro-democracy opposition party said Tuesday it was skeptical of the government's plan to grant amnesty to political prisoners, despite an announcement to the United Nations that it would do so.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the release of all political prisoners in Myanmar.

Nyan Win, a spokesman for the National League for Democracy, told CNN that he was doubtful that many prisoners would be released. He said few prisoners were released in a past amnesty.

On Monday, the U.N. Permanent Representative of Myanmar U Than Swe told the Security Council the country planned to grant amnesty to prisoners.

"At the request of the secretary-general, the Myanmar government is processing to grant amnesty to prisoners on humanitarian grounds and with a view to enabling them to participate in the 2010 general elections," he said.

He offered no specifics beyond his statement.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who earlier this month visited Myanmar -- also known as Burma -- has asked the ruling junta to release all political prisoners, including the National League for Democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

In a briefing on the trip to the U.N. Security Council, Ban said Monday that he was disappointed that he was not allowed to meet with Suu Kyi, who has been who has been held under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years.

Suu Kyi is currently on trial on allegations of subversion.

She has said she doesn't know Yettaw and denies any wrongdoing.