Jakarta – Indonesia will release 15 East Timorese political prisoners next week, a visiting delegation from the International Federation of Human Rights said here Thursday.

IFHR secretary general Willian Bourdon told AFP however that East Timorese rebel leader Xanana Gusmao serving a 20 year sentence for plotting against the state and illegal possession of weapons would not be among those freed.

Bourdon said he had been informed of the upcoming release by Indonesian Justice Minister Muladi. "The minister," Bourdon said, told us "that as of today some 80 political prisoners remained behind bars," and eventually all of them would be released.