Myanmar's junta dropped death sentences against nine...

Myanmar's junta dropped death sentences against nine men accused of high treason, including a journalist and three men charged over contacts with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The nine were convicted in November 2003 for separate offences, mostly related to alleged plots to overthrow the military government.
Zaw Thet Htway, the editor of Myanmar sports magazine First Eleven, had his sentence commuted to three years imprisonment in a Supreme Court hearing on May 12, his wife Ma Khine Cho Zaw Win said.
"I am very, very happy that his sentence has been reduced to only three years. I have not been able to see him yet to discuss about whether or not further legal steps are to be taken," she said.
The lawyer acting for the nine confirmed reports that the court overturned the death penalty and ordered new jail sentences.
Radio Free Asia said five were now imprisoned for life and the other four were ordered to serve three years in prison, it was not clear if this included time already served.
The other men given three-year terms were Min Kyi, Aye Myint and Zaw Myo Htet, who were arrested over their contacts with the ILO.