Syrian rights advocate and attorney Anwar al-Bunni, released at the weekend after five years in jail, urged authorities on Monday to free all political prisoners and vowed to continue his struggle for human rights.

"My freedom is not really complete because there are still many others held in prison," Bunni told AFP.

"The release of political prisoners is a necessary step that would give credibility to the government's stated intention to implement reforms."

Bunni was arrested in 2006 and jailed after signing the so-called "Damascus Declaration", a petition by Syria's liberal opposition calling for democratic change.