The Burmese military has released 42 child soldiers from its ranks, as part of efforts to end the recruitment of underage fighters in the Southeast Asian country.
The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper says army officials handed the children over to their parents and guardians at a ceremony in Rangoon on Monday.
The paper says Burmese officials have also vowed to rid the armed forces of all child soldiers within 18 months, in accordance with a United Nations agreement signed in June.
The U.N. says at least eight other armed groups, apart from the government armed forces, recruit and use child soldiers in Burma, including several rebel and separatist groups.
Read more using the link below.