Two Reuters journalists, who were arrested for illegally obtaining and possessing government documents in December 2017, were released as part of the Myanmar presidential amnesty to 6,520 prisoners on Tuesday, according to the President's Office.

The two Yangon-based journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo from Reuters, were sentenced to seven years in September 2018 for breaching the Official Secrets Act.

They were arrested for possessing important and secret government documents with regard to the Rakhine state and security forces, and intending to send them to the foreign news agency.

Hours after the pair was released, a government spokesperson said the decision was made for "the long-term interest" of Myanmar.

"After leaders took into consideration the long-term interest of (the) country, two Reuters journalists were released," spokesperson Zaw Htay told reporters.

Meanwhile, the presidential amnesty has brought the total prisoners released since Myanmar's traditional New Year last month to 23,019.

(Cover: Detained Reuters journalists Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone are escorted by the police as they leave after a court hearing in Yangon, Myanmar, August 20, 2018. /VCG Photo)