MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Nicaraguan government has released another 50 people considered political prisoners by the opposition, bringing the number freed since Feb. 27 to about 212.

However, charges against the demonstrators were not dropped, as the opposition had demanded. Instead, those released Friday were freed under a form of house arrest.

The opposition says more than 640 people are being held for political causes, jailed in protests that broke out in April against the government of President Daniel Ortega. The government says the actual number is far smaller.

Documents signed in talks between the government and the Civic Alliance opposition coalition call for the International Red Cross to propose an updated list of prisoners who should be freed by mid-May.