Burma to allow private newspapers

The Burmese government has announced it will allow privately owned newspapers for the first time in 50 years.

The information ministry said it will take applications by Burmese citizens from February 2013 and would permit the publication in any language from April.

Burma abolished government censorship earlier this year, in a continuation of moves to liberalise the country.

Only two years ago Burmese journalists were subjected to severe censorship and the government regularly shut down papers that fell foul of its strict rules.

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