Myanmar frees scores of child soldiers from armed forces

YANGON: Myanmar’s army has freed 96 children and young people from its armed forces, the United Nations said, hailing a “historic step” towards ending the use of child soldiers in the formerly junta-run nation.

The move was the largest single release of child recruits since Myan­mar’s new reformist government and its “tatmadaw” army signed a June 2012 pact with the UN on the issue.