American citizen John William Yettaw, who was recently sentenced by a Myanmar district court to serve seven years’ rigorous imprisonment, was released and deported by the government Sunday.

American John Yettaw arrives in Thailand’s military airbase in Bangkok Aug. 16, 2009.

The release was secured through efforts made by Webb who met with Myanmar top leader Senior-General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, in Nay Pyi Taw Saturday.

Webb, Chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, arrived in Myanmar on Friday on a three-day visit as part of his two-week tour to five Southeast Asian nations at the invitation of Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win.

The visit came days after a Myanmar district sentenced on Aug. 11 on the 54-year-old epilepsy-suffering American Yettaw, along with Aung San Suu Kyi, to the seven years’ rigorous imprisonment.

Webb’s five-nation trip had taken him to Laos and he will proceed to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia after Myanmar visit.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet