Thet Win Aung - Photo courtesy DVB

The British Foreign Office has condemned the death of a jailed Burmese pro-democracy activist and called for an investigation.

In a statement Thursday, the Foreign Office's Burma specialist, Ian McCartney, said he was appalled at the news of Thet Win Aung's death earlier this month.

Burma arrested the 34-year old activist in 1998 for organizing student protests and sentenced him to 59 years in prison.

Family members said prison officials notified them Monday about the death. Human rights groups say Thet Win Aung was tortured in prison and was refused adequate medical attention.

The British Foreign Office joined the United States, Australia and international human rights groups in urging the Burmese government to immediately release all its political prisoners.