Danny Fenster: US journalist freed from Myanmar jail

US journalist Danny Fenster has been released from prison in Myanmar after he was sentenced to 11 years in jail by a military court three days ago.

The 37-year-old will now be allowed to leave the country, junta spokesperson Major-Gen Zaw Min Tun told the BBC.

Fenster, the managing editor of online site Frontier Myanmar, was detained in May as he was about to fly back to the US.

He is one of dozens of journalists held since a military coup in February.

Fenster had been convicted of breaching immigration law, unlawful association and encouraging dissent against the military.

Then last week he was hit with two additional charges of sedition and terrorism, which carry a maximum term of life imprisonment.

Exactly how Mr Fenster came to be let out is not yet confirmed.

However, former US ambassador Bill Richardson is in Myanmar and is believed to have negotiated the release.