The general pardon was supposed to encourage guerrillas to reintegrate peacefully in Macedonian society by releasing them from fear of arrest or persecution for fighting the state.

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Traditionally Brazil has a limited general pardon each Christmas for those nearing the end of their sentences, but public opposition makes it difficult for the president (in whose hands the power lies) to make the pardon an ample one.

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Last year, Egypt's interim government released him along with scores of other political prisoners after a general pardon was issued by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which ruled the country after the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

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