YANGON — Myanmar says it will release more than 5,000 prisoners who were jailed for protesting against February's coup, BBC reported.

Thousands of people were detained during bloody demonstrations after military leaders seized power.

Myanmar's leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said the 5,636 prisoners would be freed for humanitarian reasons.

It comes days after the general was excluded from an annual summit of regional leaders, who said the military had not done enough to end the turmoil.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) agreed to invite a non-political representative from Myanmar instead of Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

At least 1,178 people were killed and 7,355 arrested, charged or sentenced during a crackdown on dissent that followed Aung Sun Suu Kyi being ousted from power, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

He said his government had its own five-stage plan to restore democracy.

The authorities released more than 2,000 anti-coup protesters in July.