U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday he sent a letter to Myanmar's junta chief to voice concern about the credibility of this year's nationwide election, the country's first in 20 years. Ban said he wrote to Senior General Than Shwe 10 days ago "expressing my concern about this lack of progress" on democratic reforms and emphasizing the importance of ensuring that this year's vote is "most credible, inclusive and transparent."…Ban urged the junta to empty the country's jails of political dissidents so they can take part in a nationwide election planned for this year. "All the political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, (should be) released as soon as possible, so that all of them can participate," he told reporters in New York. "That will make the election an inclusive and credible one." The election, a date for which has yet to be revealed, has been widely derided as an attempt by the junta to make the country appear democratic, with the military pulling the strings behind a civilian-fronted government. - Reuters